ORY 


;BOROUGtl 


HAMPSHIRE 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

Ex  Libris 

Katharine  P.  Richmond 

and 
Henry  C.  Fall 


HISTORY 


OF 


WOLFEBOROUGH 


(NEW  HAMPSHIRE) 


BY 


BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  PARKER 


Hoc  solum  fcelix,  haec  jucundissima  Terra, 
Agrestem  gaudet,  gravem  reddetq  ;   Laborem ; 
Frumentum  et  Tritticum  largedat  fertile  campum. 
Winnipesocke  Palus  (quamvis  sis  Nomine  rudis) 
Primum  inter  Stagna  praeferres  in  Ordine  Famce, 
Luciolis.  Truttis  aureisq  natantibus,  undis. 

//.  A:  Antl'jal 
INSCRIPTION  ON  PROPRIETORS'  RECORDS. 


PUBLISHED     BY     THE     TOWN 
A.D.     MDCCCCI. 


PRESS  or 

OACTSTIC     At     CLAFLIN 


F 
INTRODUCTION. 


N  the  preparation  of  this  volume,  one  thing,  above  all 
others,  has  been  kept  in  mind — accuracy.  The  work 
is  a  history  in  fact  as  well  as  in  name. 

The  author,  during  his  long  life,  was  privileged  to 
come  face  to  face  with  most  of  his  living  sources  of 
t  information.    All  other  matters  considered  are  based  upon  authen- 

ticated records  and  documents.     Although  Mr.  Parker  was  not 
permitted  to  see  the  completion  of  his  life  work,  his  ideas  in  this 
particular  have  been  strictly  adhered  to  by  those  who  succeeded 
L  him.     The  story  of  a  historic  town,  as  told  in  succeeding  pages,  is 

a  true  story  and,  we  confidently  assert,  an  unusually  interesting 
,  one. 

The  town  first  took  action  in  the  matter  in  1898,  when  Messrs. 
Edwin  H.  Lord,  Albert  B.  Rust,  and  Frederick  W.  Prindle  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  confer  with  the  author.  As  a  result  of 
their  interested  and  painstaking  labors,  this  volume,  published 
under  an  appropriation  of  the  town,  is  now  offered  to  the  public. 
The  book  is  not  particularly  rich  in  genealogies.  Much  valuable 
material  of  this  sort  remains  unused  among  the  author's  papers. 
Not  because  it  lacked  value,  not  because  it  was  uninteresting,  but 
for  the  sole  reason  that  the  scope  of  the  work  forbade  its  incor- 
poration therein. 

This  history  of  Wolfeborough,  then,  written  by  one  who  for 
more  than  three-fourths  of  a  century  lived  in  and  wrought  for  the 
town,  is  respectfully  presented  to  those  who,  by  right  of  birth  or 
adoption,  proudly  call  themselves  her  sons  and  daughters. 

THE  EDITOR. 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE.]  History  of  Wolfeborough.  New  Hampshire. 
•iy  B.  F.  Parker.  A  unique  copy  of  this  scarce  town  history,  published 
n  1401.  A  prominent  New  Hampshire  collector  gathered  nearly  100 
iignatures  of  people  mentioned  in  this  volume  and  mounted  the  auto- 
iraphs  along  the  margins.  Among  the  famous  names  are  John  Went- 
\orth.  John  Usher.  Matthew  Thornton,  and  a  number  of  the  original 
proprietors  of  the  town  (1759).  Attractively  bound  in  \  morocco. 
S6?>  S45.00 

[WOLFEBOROLGH.]  History  of  Wolfeborough.  New  Hampshire 
By  B.  F.  Parker.  A  unique  copy  of  this  scarce  town  history,  publishe 
in  1901.  A  prominent  New  Hampshire  collector  gathered  nearly  10 
signatures  of  people  mentioned  in  this  \olume  and  mounted  the  auto 
graphs  alone  the  margins.  Among  the  famous  names  are  John  Went 

"  t  '.:  -i  '•          "3  uorth.  JohrTUsher,  Matthew  Thornton,  and  a  number  of  the  ori«im, 

proprietors  of  the  toun  (1759).  Attractively  bound  in  ;  morocco._ 


CHAPTER  I. 

DISCOVERY  OF  PISCATAQUA  RIVER — NEW  ENGLAND — COUNCIL  OF 
PLYMOUTH — GORGES  AND  MASON — LACONIA — FIRST  SET- 
TLEMENTS AT  PISCATAQUA — NEW  HAMPSHIRE — MASON'S 
GRANT — DEATH  OF  MASON  AND  KIS  HEIRS — LAND  SOLD 
TO  SAMUEL  ALLEN — YOUNG  MASON'S  CLAIMS  AND  THE 
DISPOSAL  OF  THE  PROPERTY. 

BEFORE  proceeding  with  the  particular  history  of  the  town  of 
Wolfeborough  it  may  not  be  uninteresting  or  unprofitable 
to  briefly  consider  the  titles  by  which  the  lands  in  this  and 
many  other  towns  in  the  state  of  New  Hampshire  are  held.  It 
is  well  known  that  the  European  governments  claimed  the 
right  to  hold  such  lands  as  might  be  discovered  on  the  American 
continent  by  their  subjects.  In  1614  that  remarkable  voyager, 
Captain  John  Smith,  while  examining  the  coast  from  Penobscot 
River  to  Cape  Cod,  discovered  the  Piscataqua  River,  which  he  de- 
scribes as  "a  safe  harbor  with  a  rocky  shore."  On  his  return  to 
England  he  published  a  description  of  the  country  with  a  map  of 
the  sea-coast,  which  he  presented  to  Prince  Charles,  who  gave  to 
the  region  the  name  of  New  England. 

In  1620  King  James  constituted  a  council  of  forty  persons — 
"noblemen,  knights,  and  gentlemen,  by  the  name  of  the  Council 
Established  at  Plymouth,  in  the  County  of  Devon,  for  the  Plant- 
ing, Ruling,  and  Governing  of  New  England  in  America."  They 
were  a  corporation  with  perpetual  succession,  vacancies  being 
filled  by  election  of  the  majority.  Their  territory  extended  from 
the  fortieth  to  the  forty-eighth  degree  of  north  latitude.  This 
charter  was  the  foundation  of  all  grants  that  were  made  of  the 


6  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

country  of  New  England.  Two  of  the  most  active  members  of 
this  Council  were  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  and  Captain  John 
Mason. 

In  1622  Gorges  and  Mason  obtained  a  grant  of  all  the  lands 
between  the  rivers  Merrimac  and  Sagadahock,  "extending  back 
to  the  great  lakes  and  river  of  Canada,"  which  they  called  La- 
conia.  They,  having  formed  a  co-partnership  with  several  Eng- 
lish merchants,  the  following  year  commenced  settlements  on  the 
Piscataqua  River.  In  1629  Mason  obtained  a  patent  from  the 
Council  of  Plymouth  for  the  land  "from  the  middle  of  the 
Piscataqua  River,  and  up  the  same  to  the  farthest  head  thereof; 
and  from  thence  northwestward,  until  sixty  miles  were  finished : 
also,  through  Merrimac  River  to  the  farthest  head  thereof;  and 
so  forward,  up  into  the  land  westward,  until  sixty  miles  were 
finished ;  and  from  thence  to  cross  over  land  to  the  end  of  sixty 
miles  accounted  frcm  Piscataqua  River,  together  with  all  the 
islands  within  five  leagues  from  the  coast."  This  tract  of  land 
was  called  New  Hampshire.  A  straight  line  from  the  two  inland 
points  indicated  would  pass  through  the  town  of  Wolfeborough ; 
while  a  curved  line,  as  it  was  claimed  it  should  be,  would  probably 
be  as  far  north  as  Moultonborough.  The  territory  included  with- 
in these  lines  is  but  a  small  part  of  that  which  now  constitutes  the 
state  of  New  Hampshire. 

In  June,  1635,  the  Plymouth  Council  was  required  to  surrender 
its  charter  to  the  king.  Mason,  however,  had  taken  the  pre- 
caution to  have  his  former  grant  confirmed  previous  to  the  sur- 
render. He  immediately  commenced  making  arrangements  to 
send  men  and  supplies  to  New  Hampshire,  a  step  rendered  neces- 
sary by  the  lanquishing  condition  of  the  settlements  on  the 
Piscataqua.  His  death,  which  occurred  within  the  year,  pre- 
vented the  accomplishment  of  his  purpose.  In  his  will,  after  be- 
queathing several  legacies,  he  devised  the  residue  of  his  estate 
in  New  Hampshire  to  his  grandson,  John  Tufton,  and  his  lawful 
issue  ;  the  legatee,  in  any  case,  being  required  to  take  the  sur- 
name of  Mason. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  7 

In  1638  the  widow  of  Mason,  who  was  also  his  executrix,  at- 
tempted to  carry  out  his  plans  of  settlement  through  an  agent, 
but,  finding  that  the  expenses  exceeded  the  income,  gave  up  the 
attempt ;  and  for  the  time  the  property  became  valueless.  In 
1641  the  few  settlements  in  New  Hampshire  came  under  the  juris- 
diction of  Massachusetts.  In  1652  Joseph  Mason,  an  agent  of  the 
executrix,  made  an  attempt  to  recover  the  interest  of  the  estate 
in  the  territory,  but  failed  of  accomplishing  his  purpose. 

John  Tufton,  the  first  named  residuary  legatee  in  Mason's  will, 
died  in  infancy,  and,  consequently,  Robert  Tufton,  at  the  death  of 
the  widow,  succeeded  to  whatever  rights  the  family  might  still 
possess  in  the  New  Hampshire  property.  He  assumed  the  sur- 
name of  Mason,  and  on  the  restoration  of  Charles  the  Second,  ap- 
plied to  the  throne  for  redress.  The  response  was  favorable,  but 
no  immediate  beneficial  results  followed.  Becoming  discouraged, 
he,  in  1674,  seriously  thought  of  alienating  his  right  to  the  crown. 
This  scheme  was,  however,  abandoned,  and  the  following  year  he 
again  petitioned  the  king  for  the  restoration  of  his  property.  The 
matter  was  referred  to  the  proper  law  officers,  and  it  was  finally 
determined  that  Mason  had  a  legal  right  to  the  lands  which  he 
claimed.  This  decision  eventually  led  to  the  separation  of  New 
Hampshire  from  Massachusetts,  which  event  took  place  in  1680. 

Mason,  having  been  appointed  one  of  the  council  of  New 
Hampshire,  repaired  to  the  province,  when  commenced  vexatious 
disputes  between  him  and  the  individual  landholders  in  relation 
to  titles.  He  died  in  1689,  leaving  his  sons,  John  and  Robert, 
heirs  to  his  claim — and  his  controversies. 

In  1691  the  two  heirs  sold  their  rights  to  Samuel  Allen,  a  Lon- 
don merchant.  Allen  had  the  address  to  successfully  defeat  an 
attempt  which  was  then  made  to  re-annex  New  Hampshire  to 
Massachusetts,  and  to  secure  the  appointment  of  his  son-in-law, 
John  Usher,  to  the  office  of  lieutenant-governor  of  the  province. 

A  change  of  claimants  did  not  render  the  settlers  any  more 
acquiescent,  and  they  as  resolutely  resisted  the  demands  of  Allen 


g  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

as  they  had  previously  those  of  Mason.  At  length  a  compromise 
was  proposed ;  and  arrangements  were  being  made  to  effect  an 
amicable  adjustment  of  the  matters  in  dispute,  when  Allen  died. 
His  son  and  heir  renewed  the  controversy,  but  soon  died.  His 
other  children  being  minors,  no  further  effective  efforts  were 
made  by  the  family  to  substantiate  its  claim. 

When  John  and  Robert  Mason  sold  their  claim  to  Samuel  Allen 
in  1691,  it  was  supposed  that  there  might  be  a  flaw  in  the  transfer. 
No  notice  was  taken  of  this,  however,  during  the  lives  of  the  two 
Masons.  John,  the  elder,  died  without  issue.  Robert  married 
in  New  England,  and  had  a  son,  who,  after  the  death  of  his 
father,  conceived  hopes  of  invalidating  Allen's  purchase  and  re- 
covering his  paternal  inheritance.  He,  however,  died  before  he 
had  obtained  sufficient  means  to  prosecute  his  claim.  His  eldest 
son,  John  Tufton  Mason,  arrived  at  his  majority  in  1738,  at  which 
time  a  controversy  in  relation  to  jurisdiction  between  the  province 
of  Massachusetts  and  that  of  New  Hampshire  was  in  agitation. 
The  politicians  of  Massachusetts,  conceiving  that  it  might  be  for 
their  advantage,  advised  young  Mason  to  assert  his  pretensions. 
They  purchased  of  him  a  quit-claim  of  nearly  four  thousand  acres 
of  land  lying  within  the  border  towns  of  the  province,  and  paid 
the  expenses  of  a  voyage  to  England,  that  he  might  better  prose- 
cute his  claim.  The  agents  of  Massachusetts,  afterwards  learn- 
ing that  by  pressing  the  claim  of  Mason  they  might  prejudice 
the  court  in  relation  to  their  own  interests,  released  him  from 
further  obligation  to  them. 

Thomlinson,  the  ever-watchful  agent  for  New  Hampshire,  be- 
ing apprised  of  this  action,  entered  into  an  agreement  with  Mason 
for  the  release  of  his  claim  to  the  provincial  assembly.  A  variety 
of  circumstances  conspired  to  prevent  the  ratification  of  this  agree- 
ment, and  in  1/46  he  conveyed  his  whole  interest  in  New  Hamp- 
shire lands  to  Theodore  Atkinson,  Mark  H.  Wentworth,  Richard 
Wibird,  John  Wentworth  (son  of  Governor  Benning  Went- 
worth), George  JarTrey,  Samuel  Moore,  Nathaniel  Meserve, 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  g 

Thomas  Packer,  Thomas  Wallingford,  Jonathan  Odiorne,  Joshua 
Pierce,  and  John  MofTat  for  fifteen  hundred  pounds.  Atkinson 
had  three  shares ;  Mark  H.  Wentworth,  two ;  and  the  other  ten 
purchasers,  one  share  each.  These  persons  were  styled  the  Pro- 
prietors of  Mason's  Patent,  or  the  Masonian  Proprietors. 


CHAPTER  II. 

GRANT  OF  TOWNSHIP — KINGSWOOD — ADMISSION  OF  ASSOCIATES 
—How  THE  NEW  TOWN  WAS  NAMED — THE  MILES  ROAD 
— ELISHA  BRYANT  FELLS  TREES — FIRST  MEETING  OF 
TOWN  PROPRIETORS — TOWN  NAMED,  SURVEYED,  AND  DI- 
VIDED— EFFORT  TO  PROMOTE  SETTLEMENT — TERMS  UNDER 
WHICH  LAND  COULD  BE  ACQUIRED — SEPARATION  INTO 
LOTS — DESCRIPTIVE  BOUNDARIES — BOUNDARIES  OF  SUB- 
DIVISIONS AND  ADDITIONS. 

ON  the  fifth  day  of  October,  1759,  the  principal  part  of  the 
territory  now  embraced  within  the  limits  of  the  town  of 
Wolfeborough  was  granted  to  certain  persons  by  the  following 
instrument : — 

Prov.  of  New  Hampshire — At  a  Meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of 
the  Lands  purchased  of  John  Tnfton  Mason,  Esq.,  or  the  Pro- 
prietors of  Mason's  Patent  so-called  holden  at  the  House  James 
Stoodley,  Inn-holder  at  Portsmouth,  the  fifth  day  of  October, 
Anno  Domini,  1759. 

Whereat  sundry  young  Gentlemen  of  the  Town  of  Portsmouth 
in  said  Province  have  applied  to  said  Proprietors  and  repre- 
sented that  they  are  disposed  to  make  a  settlement  of  a  new 
Plantation  and  to  advance  all  such  Sums  of  Money  from  Time 
to  Time  as  should  be  necessary  to  a  Vigorous  Prosecution  of 
that  Design  if  they  could  obtain  the  Title  of  said  Proprietors  to 
a  suitable  Tract  of  Land  for  that  Purpose  and  thereupon  have 
requested  such  a  Grant,  and  said  Proprietors  being  willing  to 
encourage  a  proposition  so  likely  to  be  of  public  Utility,  there- 
fore 

Voted    That  there  be  and  hereby  is  granted  unto  William  Earl 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  n 

Treadwell,  Henry  Apthorp,  Ammi  Ruhamah  Cutter  and  David 
Sewall  all  of  Portsmouth  aforesaid  and  such  others  as  they 
shall  admit  as  Associates  with  them  and  their  respective  Heirs 
and  Assigns  forever  all  the  Right,  Title,  Estate,  Property  & 
Demand  of  said  Proprietors  of  in  and  into  a  Certain  Tract  of 
Land  in  the  Province  aforesaid  Equal  in  Quantity  to  thirty  Six 
square  Miles  Bounded  as  follows  Viz :  beginning  at  the  North 
Easterly  corner  of  a  Tract  of  Land  granted  by  said  Proprietors 
to  Jonathan  Chesle  &  others  known  by  the  Name  of  New  Dur- 
ham then  running  North  forty  Eight  Degrees  East  on  the  Head 
or  uper  Line  of  a  Tract  of  Land  called  Micldletown  and  on 
that  called  Salmon  falls — Town  or  as  those  head  Lines  run  join- 
ing thereon  and  running  so  far  as  that  a  Line  runing  from 
thence  Six  Miles  North  West  and  then  South  West  to  Win- 
nepiseoky  Pond  and  then  by  the  side  of  said  Pond  joining 
thereon  untill  the  aforesaid  Corner  first  mentioned  bears  South 
East  and  then  running  South  East  to  the  said  Corner  makes  up 
the  aforesaid  Quantity  of  thirty  Six  square  Miles,  Excepting 
and  reserving  as  is  herein  after  Expressed  and  on  the  Con- 
ditions and  limitations  and  Terms  herein  after  declared  to  have 
and  to  hold  the  said  granted  Premises  with  the  Appurtenances 
to  them  the  said  William  Earl  Treadwell,  Henry  Apthorp, 
Ammi  Ruhamah  Cutter  and  David  sewall  and  their  Associates 
their  several  and  respective  Heirs  and  Assigns  forever  on  the 
Terms  reservations  Limitations  &  Conditions  following  Viz. — 
First  that  the  said  Tract  of  Land  be  at  the  Cost  of  the  Grantees  and 
their  Associates  laid  out  as  soon  as  may  be  into  four  equal  Parts 
both  for  Quantity  and  Quality  and  one  of  the  said  Parts  to  be 
determined  by  Lot  be  &  hereby  is  Excepted  and  reserved  to 
the  said  Proprietors  and  their  Assigns,  which  Quarter  Part 
shall  be  also  laid  out  at  the  Expense  of  the  said  Grantees  and 
their  Associates  when  requested  by  said  Proprietors  into  twenty 
Shares  or  Lots  three  of  which  shall  be  for  the  following  Public 
Uses  Viz.  one  for  the  Use  of  a  School,  one  for  the  LTse  of  the 


I2  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

first  Minister  of  the  Gospell  who  shall  Settle  there  the  other 
for  the  use  of  the  Ministry  of  the  Gospel  who  shall  settle  there 
forever,  and  the  other  Seventeen  Lotts  to  be  for  the  Use  of  the 
other  Persons  to  whom  they  shall  fall  by  Lot  hereafter  to  be 
drawn  their  Heirs  and  Assigns  by  which  Method  also  the  afore- 
said Lots  for  Public  uses  shall  be  determined  and  all  necessary 
Public  or  General  High  ways  shall  be  laid  out  in  the  said  re- 
served Quarter  at  the  Expense  of  the  said  Grantees  and  As- 
sociates, no  High  way  to  be  less  than  two  Rods  \vide  and  all 
the  Shares  Lots  and  Divisions  in  the  said  Quarter  Part  shall 
not  be  liable  to  any  Charge  in  setling  and  carying  this  Proposal 
into  Execution  untill  the  same  shall  be  improved  by  the  respec- 
tive owner — 

Secondly  the  said  Grantees  shall  have  ten  Families  setled  on  said 
three  Quarters  of  said  Tract  of  Land  within  three  Years  after  a 
Public  Peace  shall  be  concluded  between  the  English  French 
and  Indians  and  within  Eight  Years  after  such  a  Peace  to  have 
forty  Familys  settled  there  and  a  Convenient  House  built  for 
the  Public  Worship  of  God  and  all  necessary  High  ways  shall 
be  laid  out  thro'  the  said  Land  of  the  Breadth  aforesaid,  all  the 
said  Matters  and  Things  are  to  be  done  at  the  Charge  and  Ex- 
pense of  the  Grantees  and  their  Associates,  Provided  that  if 
after  such  a  peace  a  war  with  the  Indians  should  again  com- 
mence before  the  Expiration  of  the  several  periods  before 
Limited  the  like  Time  shall  be  allowed  as  before  specified  after 
that  Impediment  shall  be  removed — Moreover  all  White  Pine 
Trees  fit  for  his  Majesty's  L'se  in  the  services  of  the  Royal 
Xavy  are  hereby  reserved  to  his  Majesty's  Use  his  Heirs  & 
Successors  for  that  Purpose  that  are  or  hereafter  shall  be  grow- 
ing on  said  Land — And  in  Case  the  said  Grantees  and  their 
Associates  shall  neglect  and  omit  to  perform  the  Articles  Mat- 
ters or  Things  before  mentioned  by  them  to  be  done  or  that 
shall  be  added  by  Agreement  between  said  Proprietors  &  them 
according  to  the  true  Intent  and  meaning  hereof  and  within  the 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  l$ 

Time  limited  for  that  Purpose ;  it  shall  &  may  be  lawfull  to  and 
for  said  Proprietors  and  they  are  hereby  authorized  either  by 
themselves  or  any  of  them  their  Agent  or  Agents  or  Attorneys 
in  their  Name  to  Enter  and  take  possession  of  said  Granted 
Premises  &  become  Reseized  thereof  &  be  again  instated  as  in 
their  former  Estate  and  as  if  this  Grant  had  never  been  made 
— And  further  it  is  agreed  and  this  Condition  Added  that  the 
Grantors  Lots  shall  not  be  subjected  to  any  Town  or  Parish 
Charges  or  Tax  neither  by  Act  of  Assembly  or  otherways  until 
they  shall  by  them  be  respectively  Setled  or  Sold  by  the 
Grantees  and  their  Associates  shall  keep  and  save  them  wholly 
indemnified  from  the  same,  and  also  that  neither  the  Grantors 
nor  their  Heirs  shall  be  by  Virtue  of  this  Grant  bound  or  held 
to  Warrant  the  said  granted  Premises  to  the  Grantees  nor  their 
Associates.  And  that  there  be  also  reserved  in  the  most  con- 
venient Place  in  the  said  three  Quarter  parts  of  said  Tract 
hereby  granted,  Ten  Acres  of  Land,  to  be  laid  out  by  the  said 
Grantees  and  their  Associates,  in,  or  as  near  as  can  be  in  a 
Square,  for  Public  Uses  for  the  Benefit  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
the  whole  Tract  herein"  described  Viz.  for  a  Training  Field, 
Burying  Ground  and  any  other  Public  Use. 

Copy  of  Record  Examined 
Per  Geo.  Jaffrey,  Proprietors'  Clerk." 

The  foregoing  instrument  shows  how  Treadwell,  Apthorp,  Cut- 
ter and  Sewall  became  the  proprietors  of  the  original  township  of 
Wolfeborough.  Twenty-one  days  after  receiving  the  aforesaid 
grant,  they  admitted  with  them  twenty  associates  by  the  following 
conveyance : — 

To  whom  these  Presents  shall  come,  Greeting: 

Whereas,    the   Proprietors  of   Mason's  Patent  so  called   for  the 
Encouraging  the  Settlement  of  a  new  Plantation,  on  the  fifth 


I4  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Day  of  October  Instant  Granted  and  conveyed  unto  us  Wil- 
liam Earl  Treadwell  &  Henry  Apthorp  Merchants  Ammi 
Ruhamah  Cutter  physician  and  David  Sewall  Attorney  at  Law- 
all  of  Portsmouth  in  the  Province  of  New  Hampshire  all  the 
Right  Estate  and  Demand  of  said  Proprietors  to  a  Certain 
Tract  of  Land  equal  in  Quantity  to  thirty  Six  square  Miles 
Bounded  as  follows  (The  boundaries  are  the  same  as  in  the 
grant)  to  Have  and  to  Hold  the  said  Premises  with  their  Ap- 
purtances  to  us  and  our  Associates  &  our  Respective  Heirs  and 
Assigns  under  the  Reservations  and  on  the  Conditions  and 
Limitations  Expressed  in  the  said  Grant  as  may  more  fully  ap- 
pear by  reference  thereto. 

Now  know  ye,  That  We,  the  said  William  Earl  Treadwell, 
Henry  Apthorp,  Ammi  Ruhamah  Cutter  and  David  Sewall  for 
carrying  on  &  making  the  said  settlement  have  admitted  as  As- 
sociates in  the  said  Grant  Daniel  Peirce,  Esq.,  Paul  March, 
Gentlemen ;  John  Rindge,  Daniel  Rindge,  John  Wentworth, 
George  Meserve,  Robert  Odiorne,  Jotham  Rindge,  Samuel 
Moftatt,  Thomas  Wentworth,  Merchants ;  George  King,  Henry 
Rust,  John  Parker,  Isaac  Rindge,  Mariners ;  Joshua  Brackett, 
Gentleman,  All  of  Portsmouth ;  William  Parker  of  Kingston  in 
said  Province,  Gentleman ;  Nathaniel  Peasely  Sargent  of 
Haverhill,  County  of  Essex,  Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay, 
Attorney  at  Law ;  Daniel  Tredwell  of  New  York,  Province  of 
New  York,  Gentleman ;  Thomas  Darling,  Master  of  the  Mast- 
si  lip,  called  the  Strajford  and  John  Long,  Master  of  the 
Mastship  called  Winchester  both  lately  residing  in  said 
Portsmouth. 

In  consideration  of  the  Sum  of  Five  Shillings  to  us  in  hand 
paid  by  them  the  Receipt  whereof  to  our  full  satisfaction  we  do 
hereby  acknowledge  Have  given  granted  bargained  &  sold  and 
by  these  Presents  Do  give  grant  bargain  Sell  Convey  and  Con- 
firm unto  them  our  said  Associates  all  our  Right  Title  Interest 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  i$ 

Estate  and  Demand  which  we  have  by  Virtue  of  the  said  Grant 
of  in  &  unto  Twenty,  Four-and-Twentyeth  Parts  of  three  Quar- 
ters of  said  Tract  of  Land  Excepting  only  Ten  Acres  which  is 
to  be  held  in  Common  for  Public  Uses  To  Have  and  To  Hold 
the  said  Granted  &  bargained  premises  with  the  Appurtenances 
unto  them  the  said  Associates  viz.  To  Each  of  them  one  four  & 
Twentieth  Part  aforesaid  &  to  his  Heirs  &  Assigns  Forever  on 
the  same  Terms  Limitations  and  Conditions  mentioned  in  the 
Grant  to  us  ;  by  us  and  our  Associates  to  be  performed  &  Done 
they  doing  Paying  and  performing  each  his  Respective  Share 
and  Proportion  thereof  And  Whereas  our  Share  Part  &  Propor- 
tion of  said  Land  which  Remains  to  us  being  four  twenty 
fourth  Parts  of  the  said  three  Quarters  is  in  Common  un- 
severed  we  hereby  mutually  agree  to  divide,  and  by  these  Pres- 
ents do  sever  divide  &  make  Partition  of  the  same  to  each,  one 
fonr  &  twentieth  Part  of  the  said  three  Quarter  Parts  to  hold,  to 
each  his  Heirs  &  Assigns  in  Federally,  forever,  In  Witness 
whereof  we  have  hereunto  Set  our  hands  and  Seals  the  twenty 
fourth  Day  of  October  Anno  Domini  1759. 

Signed  Sealed  and  Delivered 
in  the  presence  of  us 

Joseph  Wiggin  William  Earle  Treadwell 

William  Parker  H.  F.  Apthorp 

A.  R.  Cutter 
David  Sewall 

Province  of  New  Hampshire — October  26th  1759  then  the 
within  Named  Henry  Apthorp  Ammi  Ruhamah  Cutter  &  David 
Sewall  Personally  appearing  acknowledged  this  Instrument  to 
be  their  free  Act  &  Deed 

Before  William  Parker  Justice  of  Peace. 
The  organization   of   Kingswood,  a   town  chartered   by   Gov- 


j6  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

ernor  Belcher,  October  20,  1737,  embracing  within  its  limits  a 
portion  of  the  territory  included  within  the  boundaries  of  Wolfe- 
borough,  may  now  very  properly  be  considered.  This  town  was 
situated  north  of  Rochester  and  Harrington,  and  comprised 
Middleton  (including  Brookfield),  New  Durham,  New  Durham 
Gore  (now  Alton),  and  parts  of  Gilmanton,  Waken" eld,  and 
Wolfeborough.  The  boundaries  of  the  tract  were  as  follows : — 

"Beginning  at  the  southeasterly  corner  of  Barnstead,  and  from 
thence  to  run  the  same  course  as  Barnstead's  easterly  side-line 
runs  to  Winnipisioky  Pond ;  from  thence  upon  a  right  angle  till 
it  comes  to  the  boundary-line  between  our  said  province  of  New 
Hampshire  and  that  which  was  formerly  called  the  province  of 
Maine ;  from  thence  on  the  same  boundary-line  runneth  to  the 
northeasterly  corner  of  the  town  of  Rochester;  from  thence  by 
Rochester  and  Barrington  head-lines  to  the  bounds  first  men- 
tioned." 

The  sixty  proprietors  to  whom  the  town  was  granted  were 
Eleazer  Russell,  Nathaniel  Rogers,  Matthew  Livermore,  Thomas 
Peirce,  William  Parker,  Benjamin  Walton,  Samuel  Hart,  Joseph 
Molton,  John  Cut,  Thomas  Wright,  John  Ayers,  Solomon  Cotton, 
Daniel  Jackson,  Jr.,  Samuel  Sherburne,  merchant,  Henry  Sher- 
burne,  Jr.,  ditto,  \Villiam  King,  John  Sherburne  of  Little  Harbor, 
Joseph  Sherburne,son  of  Joseph  Sherburne,  Esq.,  Nathaniel  Men- 
dum,  George  Rogers,  Joseph  Whipple,  John  Ross,  Charles  Frost, 
N.  Castle,  John  Shackford,  Jr.,  John  Wood,  William  Frost,  Ben- 
jamin Miller,  Daniel  Moulton,  Benjamin  Gambling,  John  Pray, 
Solomon  Pike,  Nicholas  Whidden,  John  Fellows,  Thomas  West- 
brook,  Daniel  Rogers,  Samuel  Sherburn,  Innholder,  Elliot 
Vaughan,  Peter  Grcly,  Ichabod  Plaisted,  Thomas  Newmard,  John 
Kennard,  Henry  Sherburne,  Jr.,  of  the  Plains ,  John  Dennet,  son 
of  Ephraim  Dennet,  Esq. ,  Moses  Dennet,  Joseph  Langdon, 
Samuel  White,  George  Pierce,  Joseph  Jackson,  Moses  Noble, 
Sharach  Walton,  Esq. ,  George  Jaffrey,  Esq. ,  Ephraim  Dennet, 
ESCJ.  ,  Joshua  Pierce,  Esq.,  Joseph  Sherburn,  Esq.,  Jotham  Odi- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  ij 

orne,  Esq. ,  Henry  Sherburne,  Esq. ,  Richard  Waldron,  Esq. , 
Theodore  Atkinson,  Esq. 

By  the  conditions  of  the  grant  the  proprietors  were  each  to 
build  a  dwelling-house,  and  settle  a  family  in  the  town  within  five 
years.  They  were  also  to  build  a  meeting-house  within  the  same 
time,  and  settle  an  orthodox  minister  within  seven  years.  Should 
wars  occur,  the  time  for  doing  these  things  was  to  be  extended. 
They  were  to  reserve  three  hundred  acres  of  land  for  the  first 
ordained  minister  that  should  settle  in  the  town,  a  like  quantity 
for  the  second,  six  hundred  acres  for  parsonages,  and  three  hun- 
dred acres  for  schools.  The  proprietors  were  to  pay  the  govern- 
ment an  annual  quit-rent  of  ten  pounds  of  hemp,  if  demanded, 
and  reserve  for  it  all  mast  trees.  The  committee  designated  by 
the  governor  to  call  the  first  meeting  consisted  of  Nathaniel 
Rogers,  Eleazer  Russell,  and  Matthew  Livermore.  Rogers  was 
chosen  moderator,  and  Livermore,  proprietors'  clerk. 

At  subsequent  meetings  a  tax  to  meet  current  expenses  was 
assessed.  John  Fellows  was  appointed  tax-collector,  and  Henry 
Sherburne,  Esq.,  treasurer.  The  committee  that  called  the  first 
meeting  was  authorized  to  make  surveys  and  secure  settlers. 
Subsequently,  Sherburne,  Livermore,  and  Richard  Waldron  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  make  arrangements  for  settling  the 
town  by  giving  to  sixty  persons  each  a  lot  not  to  exceed  three 
hundred  acres  of  land.  They  were  also  to  lay  out  three  lots  of 
the  same  size, — one  for  the  first  minister,  one  for  a  parsonage  in 
the  district  first  settled,  and  one  for  a  school  in  the  same  district. 
Each  proprietor  was  also  to  have  a  similar  lot.  The  settlements 
were  to  be  located  in  the  southern  part  of  the  grant.  It  is  not 
known  that  any  effective  measures  were  adopted  to  secure  the 
contemplated  object.  The  scheme  proved  a  failure,  and  in  1739, 
when  Governor  Belcher  was  removed,  the  charter  was  annulled. 
It  is  possible  that  a  few  persons  located  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  grant  and  remained  until  New  Durham  was  organized,  as  a 
road  had  been  cut  from  Dover  to  Lake  Winnipesaukee  in  1722. 


jg  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

and  the  town  of  New  Durham,  in  1767,  had  a  population  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty-seven  persons,  while  Wolfeborough  at  the  same 
time  had  not  a  single  inhabitant. 

Kingswood,  although  perhaps  only  a  paper  town,  had  a  name 
which  has  proved  transferable,  and  is,  therefore,  entitled  to  con- 
sideration. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  twenty-four  town  proprietors,  held  at  the 
house  of  John  Stavers,  in  Portsmouth,  on  the  fourteenth  day  of 
November,  1759,  at  which  Daniel  Pierce  was  appointed  mod- 
erator, and  David  Sewall,  clerk,  it  was  voted  "that  the  township, 
in  honor  of  the  late  renowned  and  illustrious  General  Wolf,  de- 
ceased, be  called  Wolf-Borough." 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  orthographic  error  in  Wolfe's  name 
was  transcribed  to  that  of  the  town.  It  was  retained  in  the  char- 
ter granted  in  1770,  and  continued  in  general  use  for  nearly  a 
century.  This  method  of  spelling  the  name  of  the  town  has  some- 
times led  to  the  conjecture  that  it  might  have  originated  from  the 
numerous  haunts  of  that  cowardly  marauder  then  roaming  in  the 
forests — the  American  wolf.  The  foregoing  record,  however, 
shows  that  the  town  was  named  in  honor  of  the  heroic  English 
general,  James  Wolfe,  who,  on  Sept.  13,  1759,  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
three  years,  fell  at  the  head  of  a  victorious  army  on  the  Plains  of 
Abraham,  Quebec,  while  engaged  in  a  battle  with  the  French. 
Wolfe  had  previously  associated  with  the  New  Hampshire  soldiery 
in  military  expeditions  on  the  eastern  coast  of  the  country,  and 
was  a  very  popular  officer. 

Wolfeborough  is  an  uncommon  name  for  localities.  There  is 
one  town  in  England,  one  in  the  state  of  South  Carolina,  and  one 
in  the  state  of  New  Hampshire  that  bears  the  name.  A  neighbor- 
hood in  the  town  of  Stetson,  Maine,  in  which  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  Wolfeborough  people  settled  about  sixty  years  ago,  is  called 
the  "Wolfeborough  Settlement." 

At  this  same  meeting  of  the  proprietors  Daniel  Rindge,  George 
Meserve,  and  A.  R.  Cutter  were  appointed  a  committee  to  procure 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  Xg 

a  survey  and  division  of  the  township  into  four  parts.  A  tax  was 
assessed  for  the  purpose  of  defraying  the  cost  of  surveying  and 
other  current  expenses.  The  survey  and  division  were  made  by 
Walter  Bryant,  Jr.,  who  constructed  a  camp  for  shelter  near  the 
present  site  of  the  South  Wolfeborough  woolen  manufactury. 
On  account  of  delays  he  did  not  complete  the  work  until  1762. 
The  grantors  drew  the  northern  quarter  of  the  township,  which 
was  the  least  valuable  division.  This  was  afterwards  known  as 
the  "Lords'  Quarter" — a  term  which  has,  however,  been  gen- 
erally confined  to  the  southerly  portion  of  the  division  lying  near 
the  center  of  the  town.  This  particular  locality  was  comparatively 
early  settled,  and  tolerably  populous  for  a  farming  district.  Some 
other  portions  of  the  "Quarter"  have  always  been  very  thinly  in- 
habited ;  much  of  it  is  still  pasturage  or  woodland.  In  April, 
1762,  Paul  March,  John  Wentworth,  and  A.  R.  Cutter  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  settle  five  families  in  the  township ;  and 
were  authorized  to  grant  to  the  same  a  tract  of  land  not  exceeding 
one  thousand  acres,  and  to  pay  each  settler  a  sum  not  exceeding 
two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds,  old  tenor. 

January  19,  1764,  the  committee  on  settlements  was  authorized 
to  settle  seven  additional  families,  "provided  that  the  expense  of 
settling  the  seven  families  did  not  exceed  fourteen  hundred 
pounds,  old  tenor."  On  the  seventeenth  of  the  October  follow- 
ing, the  same  committee,  increased  by  the  addition  of  Daniel 
Pierce,  was  instructed  to  make  a  road  in  said  township. 

In  March,  1764,  this  committee  was  directed  to  grant  one  ad- 
ditional thousand  acres  of  land  to  encourage  settlements.  The 
following  May  it  was  instructed  to  publish  in  the  newspapers 
notices  of  the  favorable  terms  which  were  being  offered  to  settlers 
in  the  town  of  Wolfeborough,  and  also  to  procure  a  survey  for  a 
road.  This  road  was  "spotted"  by  John  McDuffee,  and  "cut"  by 
Josiah  Miles  the  same  season.  The  next  year  Miles  bridged  the 
few  smaller  streams  over  which  the  road  passed,  not  including 
Smith's  River.  This  road  commenced  opposite  the  cove  in  Lake 


20  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Winnipesaukee,  about  one  mile  west  of  New  Durham  line,  and 
extended  to  the  western  boundary  of  Wolfeborough,  being,  with 
alterations  and  extensions  made  in  1779,  the  main  thoroughfare 
from  Tuftonborough  to  New  Durham  through  the  villages  of 
Wolfeborough  and  South  Wolfeborough,  now  known  as  North 
Main  Street  and  South  Main  Street.  It  was  for  many  years  called 
the  "Miles  Road."  The  portion  opened  by  Miles  was  about  five 
miles  in  length. 

Thus  far  the  efforts  of  the  proprietors  of  Wolfeborough  to  se- 
sure  settlers  in  the  township  had  been  of  no  avail.  They  now 
granted  full  discretionary  power  to  the  committee  on  settlements, 
and  voted  additional  sums  of  money  for  accomplishing  their  ob- 
ject. Still  their  lands  remained  unoccupied.  The  difficulty  in 
obtaining  settlers  arose  from  the  fact  that  in  New  Hampshire 
there  was  more  land  offered  for  occupancy  than  there  were  per- 
sons to  occupy  it.  While  the  controversy  between  this  and  the 
neighboring  province  of  Massachusetts  in  relation  to  their 
boundaries  continued,  the  governor  of  the  latter  granted  large 
tracts  of  land  in  the  disputed  territory  to  persons  and  organiza- 
tions. When,  in  1741,  Benning  Wentworth  was  appointed  gov- 
ernor of  New  Hampshire,  he  evinced  an  equal  readiness  to  char- 
ter townships,  and  thereby  largely  increased  his  wealth  by  ques- 
tionable business  methods — so  charged  his  enemies.  In  1746  the 
Masonian  Proprietors  purchased  Mason's  right,  and  being  de- 
sirous to  realize  from  the  bargain,  offered  their  lands  on  what 
seemed  advantageous  conditions  to  township  proprietors ;  but 
for  reasons  already  named,  these  sometimes  had  more  perplexi- 
ties than  profits  from  their  ventures. 

As  the  town  proprietors  of  Wolfeborough  held  their  lands  on 
certain  conditions  pledged  to  the  Masonian  Proprietors,  which 
had  not  as  yet  been  fully  complied  with,  it  became  necessary  to 
adopt  some  measures  that  would  prove  more  effective  in  secur- 
ing settlers.  Therefore,  in  order  that  each  proprietor  might  have 
a  direct  personal  responsibility  in  the  matter,  they,  in  October, 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  21 

1765,  voted  to  divide  the  three-quarters  of  the  township,  which 
they  had  hitherto  held  in  common,  into  twenty-four  shares  of 
equal  value.  Before  the  division  took  place,  however,  they  voted 
to  reserve  one  hundred  acres  of  land  around  the  falls  on  Smith's 
River  for  a  mill  privilege,  and  a  tract  of  one  thousand  and  fifty 
acres  in  the  southern  part  of  the  town  for  Elisha  Bryant  and 
others,  who  proposed  to  become  settlers. 

It  is  said  that  Bryant  and  three  sturdy  sons  afterwards  came  to 
the  place,  and  using  the  camp  formerly  occupied  by  Walter 
Bryant,  the  surveyor,  as  a  dwelling,  commenced  felling  trees. 
They,  however,  remained  only  a  short  time.  The  elder  Bryant, 
having  a  relish  for  strong  drinks,  complained  that  the  pure  stream 
of  water  which  flowed  near  his  temporary  abode  furnished  an  un- 
palatable beverage.  The  tract  of  land  assigned  to  him  was  in- 
tended for  seven  families.  It  afterward  reverted  to  the  proprie- 
tors. 

A  contract  was  made  with  Paul  March  to  procure  a  survey  of 
the  lots  for  twenty  pounds,  lawful  money.  Walter  Bryant,  Jr., 
immediately  commenced  the  work,  and  completed  it  the  same 
season. 

On  the  nineteenth  of  February,  1766,  the  proprietors  met  at  the 
inn  of  Captain  Zachariah  Foss,  in  Portsmouth,  for  the  purpose 
of  drawing  their  respective  lots  of  land.  It  appears  that  after  the 
twenty-four  lots  had  been  laid  out,  there  remained  a  tract  of  land 
bordering  on  Tuftonborough,  and  extending  from  Winnipesaukee 
Lake  to  the  "Lords'  Quarter."  It  was  three  hundred  and  two 
rods  wide  at  the  easterly  end,  one  hundred  and  eighty-six  at  the 
westerly,  and  comprised  seventeen  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  Of 
this  tract  Daniel  Pierce,  by  agreement,  took  as  his  share  one 
thousand  acres,  and  relinquished  all  his  other  rights  as  a  grantor 
and  grantee.  This  lot  was  for  many  years  known  as  the  "Great 
Lot,"  and  a  small  portion  of  it  remained  in  the  possession  of  the 
Pierce  family  until  about  1840.  By  the  exchange  here  noticed, 


22  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

lots  numbered  eleven  and  fifteen  in  the  grantors'  quarter  came 
into  the  possession  of  the  grantees. 

The  remaining  seven  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  this  tract,  to- 
gether with  lots  numbered  twenty-two  and  twenty-three,  were 
granted  to  Paul  March  on  condition  that  he  should  waive  all 
other  claim  to  a  right  as  a  grantee  and  settle  nine  families  thereon 
by  the  first  day  of  the  following  October.  This  tract,  which  em- 
braced about  nineteen  hundred  acres,  extended  from  Tufton- 
borough  line  to  what  is  now  Friend  Street.  Here  were  made  the 
first  permanent  settlements  in  Wolfeborough,  but  not  at  so  early 
a  date  as  that  agreed  on  by  March.  Some  subsequent  proceed- 
ings of  the  proprietors  would  indicate  that  a  portion  of  this  tract 
came  again  into  their  possession. 

Having  completed  arrangements  with  Pierce  and  March,  and 
thereby  disposed  of  lots  numbered  twenty-two  and  twenty-three, 
there  remained  twenty-two  lots  to  be  drawn  by  twenty-two  pro- 
prietors. Two  lads,  one  of  whom  was  Henry,  son  of  Captain 
Henry  Rust,  officiated  at  the  drawing.  This  was  the  result : — 

Lot  Xo.    i  of  640  acres  was  drawn  by  Jotham  Rindge. 

"  "  18  "  600  "  "  "  John  Rindge. 

"  "  7  "  642  "  "  "  John  Wentworth. 

"  "  4  "  560  "  "  "  John  Long. 

"  "  19  "  560  "  "          "  "  Nathaniel  P.  Sargent. 

"  "  24  "  600  "  "  "  John  Parker. 

"  "  15  "  600  "  "  "  Henry  Rust. 

"  "  13  "  480  "  "  "  George  King. 

"  "  12  "  550  "  "  "  Thomas  Wentworth. 

"  "  8  "  648  "  "  "  Daniel  Rindge. 

"  "  9  "  642  "  "  "  Henry  Apthorp. 

14  "  480  "  "  "  Daniel  Tread  well. 

"  "  17  "  600  "  "  "  Robert  Odiorne. 

"  "  20  "  710  "  "  "  William  E.  Treadwell. 

"  "  2  "  600  "  "          "  "  William  Parker,  Jr. 

"  "  ii   "  550  "  "  "  Joshua  Brackett. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  2$ 

Lot  No.  21  of  650  acres  was  drawn  by  George  Meserve. 

"     "     16  "  440     "  "       "  David  Sewall. 

"     "       3  "  550    "  "       "  Thomas  Darling. 

"     "     10  "  648     "  "       "  Samuel  Moffatt. 

"     "       5  "  648     "  "       "  Isaac  Rindge. 

"     "      6  "  648    "        "         "       "  A.  R.  Cutter. 

The  lots  were  appraised  of  equal  value.  They  averaged  about 
six  hundred  acres  each,  but  varied  considerably  in  extent — the 
largest,  which  included  within  its  limits  what  is  now  Pine  Hill 
cemetery,  containing  seven  hundred  and  ten  acres,  and  the 
smallest,  within  whose  boundaries  is  now  situated  an  im- 
portant part  of  the  Bridge  village,  four  hundred  and  forty  acres. 
Lots  near  the  Miles  Road  appear  to  have  had  the  greatest 
acre  value.  They  were  those  numbered  thirteen,  fourteen,  and 
sixteen.  Lots  numbered  twenty-two  and  twenty-three,  located 
on  the  same  road,  had  already  gone  into  the  possession  of  March. 
Land  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  township  was  appraised  a 
little  higher  per  acre  than  that  in  the  northeastern,  probably  on 
account  of  its  proximity  to  Lake  Winnipesaukee,  and  conse- 
quently, to  the  road  leading  from  Merry  Meeting  Bay  to  Dover ;' 
thereby  rendering  access  to  the  settled  portions  of  the  province 
less  difficult,  and  the  land  more  available  for  early  settlement. 
The  water  privilege  on  Smith  River  would  also  have  a  tendency 
to  increase  the  value  of  land  near  its  locality.  It  is  evident  that 
these  lands  were  at  first  the  most  highly  prized  in  the  town,  as  they 
were  the  earliest  settled.  The  entree  of  Governor  Wentworth  on 
his  domain  in  the  east  side  of  the  town,  however,  brought  a 
prestige  to  that  section  that  counterbalanced  the  natural  ad- 
vantages on  the  west  side. 

It  was  required  in  the  grant  from  the  Masonian  Proprietors  that 
their  division  of  the  township  should  be  surveyed,  and  subdivided 
among  them  at  the  expense  of  the  grantees.  According  to  ar- 
rangement their  reservation  was  divided  into  eighteen  shares, 
which  were  drawn  bv  lot  as  follows : — 


24  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Lot  No.  9  for  the  Ministry. 

"  "  17  "  John  Wentworth. 

"  "  15  "  Joshua  Peirce. 

"  "  12  "  George  Jaffrey. 

tc  «  ft  a  Thomas  Packer. 

"  "  14  "  John  Moffatt. 

"  "  ii  "  D.  Peirce  and  M.  Moore. 

"  "  2  "  Mark  H.  Wentworth. 

"  "  4  "  Thomas  Wallingford. 

"  "  18  "  The  First  Minister. 

"  "  7  "  John  Rindge. 

"  "  3  "  Solly  &  March. 

"  "  8  "  Meserve,  Blanchard  &  Co. 

"  "  5  "  Tomlinson  &  Mason. 

"  "  3  "  Richard  Wibird. 

"  "  16  "  Jotham  Odiorne. 

"  "  i  "  The  School. 

"  "  10  "  Theodore  Atkinson. 

These  lots,  with  the  exception  of  that  numbered  one,  averaged 
about  three  hundred  acres  each.  This  contained  four  hundred 
and  fifty. 

Four  additions  have  been  made  to  the  area  of  Wolfeborough 
since  it  was  chartered.  They  will  now  be  briefly  noticed,  and  in 
subsequent  pages  more  fully  considered.  Descriptive  boundries 
of  the  original  township,  its  additions,  and  subdivisions  will  also 
be  given,  and  such  allusions  made  to  them  as  will  render  it  com- 
paratively easy  to  determine  localities.  This  will,  of  course,  im- 
pliedly  lead  to  the  anticipation  of  some  historic  events. 

The  boundary  of  the  original  township  of  Wolfeboro  begins  near 
the  southeast  corner  of  the  farm  occupied  by  Charles  F.  Chase, 
and  runs  northeastly  on  a  line  west  of  the  Neil  Cate  farm  and 
east  of  the  Martin  farm,  until  it  reaches  a  point  near  the  dwelling 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  2$ 

formerly  occupied  by  John  W.  Cotton.  It  then  turns  toward 
the  northwest,  and  passing  a  little  east  of  the  Joseph  Jenness 
house,  and  between  the  farms  once  owned  by  Stephen  Nute 
and  Nicholas  Nute,  reaches  Dimon's  Corner,  and  so  on  by  the 
road  leading  from  that  place  to  Water  Village,  past  the  farm  of 
Joseph  H.  Bickford,  where,  there  being  a  curve  in  the  road,  it 
goes  through  a  meadow,  and  reaches  Tuftonborough  near  the 
foot  of  the  Goldsmith  hill.  Here  it  turns  towards  the  southwest, 
and  runs  for  a  short  distance  on  the  road  leading  from 
Water  Village  to  Wolfeborough  Falls,  then  near  the  northern 
shore  of  Beech  Pond,  and  farther  on,  by  the  house  of  Charles 
Bassett,  until  it  reaches  Lake  Winnipesaukee  at  the  southwesterly 
corner  of  the  John  Fullerton  farm.  Then,  turning  again  to  the 
left,  it  follows  the  lake  shore  and  Alton  line  until  it  reaches  the 
starting  point. 

The  additions  which  have  been  made  to  the  territory  of  Wolfe- 
borough  have  modified  its  exterior  lines.  Its  present  southeast 
corner  is  near  Mount  Long  Stack,  from  which  the  northeast  line 
extends  about  one  mile  to  the  corner  of  the  original  township 
near  the  farm  of  Charles  F.  Chase,  and  continues  in  the  same 
direction,  until  it  approaches  the  village  of  North  Wakefield, 
where,  at  a  point  distant  one  mile  and  seventy  rods  from  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  original  township  of  Wolfeborough,  it 
turns  to  the  left,  and  runs  in  the  direction  of  the  road  leading  to 
Ossipee  Corner  eleven  hundred  and  ninety  rods.  There,  turn- 
ing to  the  left,  it  runs  eighty-three  rods  towards  Wolfeborough, 
where  it  turns  to  the  right  and  runs  on  the  north  side  of  Trask 
and  Batson  Mountains  about  one  and  three-quarters  miles.  At 
that  point  turning  again  to  the  left,  it  runs  directly  to  Wolfe- 
borough  line.  There  is  another  change  in  the  town  line  where  it 
reaches  the  farm  formerly  owned  by  Benjamin  Wiggin,  situated 
in  the  westerly  corner  of  the  town.  Here  it  turns  somewhat  to  the 
west  as  it  approaches  Lake  Winnipesaukee.  From  the  lake  shore 


26  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

it  runs  directly  to  Alton  near  the  foot  of  Dug  Hill,  including  with- 
in its  line  the  four  principal  islands  that  lie  in  Wolfeborough  har- 
bor. The  length  of  an  air  line  from  Tuftonborough  to  Alton  is 
about  seven  miles ;  the  sinuous  shore-line,  which  fronts  every 
point  of  the  compass,  is  nearly  twice  as  long. 

In  the  town  proprietors'  allotment  of  land  in  Wolfeborough, 
lots  numbering  from  one  to  ten,  a  double  row  one  and  one-half 
miles  long  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  rods  wide,  were  situated  in 
the  north-eastern  part  of  the  town,  and,  as  a  group,  were  bounded 
by  the  Lords'  Quarter,  the  Addition,  Brookfield,  and  Lake  Went- 
worth. 

Lot  numbered  one,  drawn  by  Jotham  Rindge,  bordered  on 
Brookfield,  Lake  Wentworth,  and  lots  two  and  six,  and  included 
within  its  limits  Martin's  Hill  and  Mount  Delight.  Lot  num- 
bered two,  drawn  by  William  Parker,  Jr.,  was  bounded  by  lots 
one,  three,  seven,  and  Lake  \Ventworth.  It  included  land  now 
occupied  by  Thomas  L.  Whitton  and  others.  Lot  three,  drawn 
by  Thomas  Darling,  was  bounded  by  lots  two,  four,  eight,  and 
Lake  Wentworth.  On  this  probably  stood  the  Governor's  house. 
Lot  four,  drawn  by  John  Long,  was  bounded  by  lots  three,  five, 
nine,  and  Lake  Wentworth.  It  included  portions  of  the  meadow 
lands.  Lot  five  was  bounded  by  lots  four,  ten,  eighteen,  and  the 
Lords'  Quarter.  It  was  drawn  by  Isaac  Rindge,  who  erected  a 
house  on  it  known  as  the  "Rindge  House."  It  stood  where  now 
stands  that  owned  by  Harry  Smith.  Lot  numbered  six,  drawn 
by  A.  R.  Cutter,  situated  in  the  east  corner  of  the  three-quarters, 
was  bounded  by  lots  one  and  seven,  the  Addition,  and  Brook- 
field.  Cotton  Mountain,  within  its  limits,  was  at  first  called  Cut- 
ter's Mountain. 

Lot  seven,  drawn  by  Governor  Wentworth,  was  bounded  by 
lots  two,  six,  eight,  and  the  Addition.  The  farm  of  Timothy  Y. 
Cotton  is  within  its  limits.  Lot  eight,  drawn  by  Daniel  Rindge, 
was  bounded  by  lots  three,  seven,  nine,  and  the  Addition.  Within 
its  limits  is  the  farm  occupied  by  Cyrus  Jenness.  Lot  numbered 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  27 

nine,  drawn  by  Henry  Apthorp,  was  bounded  by  lots  four,  eight, 
ten.  and  the  Addition,  and  included  Frost's  meadow.  Lot  ten, 
drawn  by  Samuel  Moffatt,  was  bounded  by  lots  five  and  nine,  the 
Addition,  and  the  Lords'  Quarter.  It  probably  included  the  Wil- 
mot  Bickford  farm.  Lot  numbered  eleven,  drawn  by  Joshua 
Brackett,  extended  from  the  Bryant  Reservation  to  the  Sands,  a 
distance  of  two  miles  on  the  headlines  of  New  Durham  and  Brook- 
field.  Its  opposite  boundary  was,  for  a  distance  of  four  hundred 
and  forty-two  rods,  on  lot  numbered  twelve,  and  then  on  the 
shore  of  Lake  Wentworth.  The  hamlet  called  Brackett's  Cor- 
ner is  within  its  limits.  Lot  numbered  twelve,  drawn  by  Thomas 
Wentworth,  was  bounded  by  lots  eleven  and  thirteen,  the  Bryant 
Reservation,  and  Lake  Wentworth.  Within  its  boundaries  is  the 
farm  of  John  T.  Furber. 

Lot  thirteen,  drawn  by  George  King,  was  bounded  by  lots 
twelve,  fourteen,  fifteen,  sixteen,  seventeen  and  Lake  Wentworth. 
It  embraced  the  home  farms  of  the  Brewsters.  On  it  was  the  ele- 
vation called  King's  Hill.  Lot  fourteen,  drawn  by  Daniel  Tread- 
well,  was  bounded  by  lots  thirteen,  fifteen,  sixteen,  and  Lake 
Winnipesaukee.  Within  its  limits  stands  the  old  Hart  house 
now  occupied  by  Mrs.  George  W.  Furber.  Lot  numbered  fifteen 
was  a  part  of  the  Bryant  Reservation,  and  included  the  Rust  and 
Parker  farms,  most  of  Rust's  Pond  and  South  Wolfeborough  vil- 
lage. It  was,  by  agreement,  assigned  to  Henry  Rust.  Lot  six- 
teen, drawn  by  David  Sewall,  was  situated  on  both  sides  of  Smith 
River,  and  embraced  much  of  the  territory  on  which  now  stands 
Smith's  Bridge  village.  Within  its  limits  was  SewalFs  Point. 

Lot  seventeen  was  drawn  by  Robert  Odiorne,  but  soon  went 
into  the  possession  of  William  Torrey.  This  lot  was  four  hun- 
dred rods  long  and  two  hundred  and  eighty  rods  wide,  embracing 
within  its  limits  the  entire  mill-lot  of  one  hundred  acres,  the  re- 
maining portion  of  the  village  of  Wolfeborough  Falls,  Crooked 
Pond,  and  the  outlet  of  Lake  Wentworth.  Lot  eighteen,  drawn  by 
John  Rindge,  was  bounded  by  lots  five,  seventeen,  nineteen, 


2g  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

twenty,  the  Lords'  Quarter,  and  Lake  Wentworth.  Included 
within  its  boundaries,  was  the  large  tract  of  woodland  formerly 
owned  by  George  W.  Hersey. 

Lot  numbered  nineteen,  drawn  by  Nathaniel  P.  Sargeant,  was 
bounded  by  lots  eighteen,  twenty,  twenty-one,  the  Great  Lot,  and 
the  Lords'  Quarter.  Within  its  limits  is  Lily  (formerly  Sar- 
geant's)  Pond.  Lot  twenty  was  bounded  by  lots  seventeen,  nine- 
teen, twenty-one,  and  twenty-two,  and  included  the  Avery  woods. 
It  was  drawn  by  William  Earle  Treadwell,  but  subsequently  be- 
came the  property  of  George  Meserve.  Lot  twenty-one  was 
drawn  by  George  Meserve.  It  lay  northwest  of  lot  twenty,  and 
probably  included  within  its  limits  the  site  of  Pine  Hill  school- 
house.  It  was  bounded  by  lots  nineteen,  twenty,  twenty-three, 
and  the  Great  Lot.  Lots  twenty-two  and  twenty-three  lay  be- 
tween lots  twenty  and  twenty-one,  and  Lake  \Vinnipesaukee. 
They  were  conditionally  relinquished  to  Paul  March.  Lot  twenty- 
four  embraced  Wolfeborough  Neck,  and  was  assigned  to  John 
Parker.  At  first  the  Neck  was  allotted  to  Henry  Rust  and  John 
Parker,  as,  before  measurement,  it  was  supposed  to  contain  land 
sufficient  for  two  lots.  It  was,  however,  afterwards  ascertained 
that  its  superficies  equalled  only  five  hundred  and  forty-seven 
acres.  This  tract  was,  therefore,  given  to  Parker  for  his  share, 
and  Rust  received  six  hundred  acres  of  the  Bryant  Reservation. 

The  first  row  of  lots  in  the  Lords'  Quarter,  numbering  from 
one  to  six,  bordered  on  a  range-road  extending  from  Dimon's 
Corner  to  Frank  B.  Home's  farm.  The  most  southern  lot  con- 
tained four  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  It  was  numbered  one,  and 
appropriated  for  schools.  The  other  seventeen  averaged  three 
hundred  acres  each.  Lot  number  two  was  situated  northeast  of 
lot  one.  On  it  is  the  farm  of  Charles  C.  Thompson.  It  was 
drawn  by  Mark  H.  Wentworth.  Lot  three  was  drawn  by  Richard 
Wibird.  On  it  stands  the  dwelling  of  Sylvester  Twombly.  Lot 
numbered  four  was  drawn  by  Thomas  Wallingford.  Here  is  Charles 
H.  Bennett's  farm.  Lot  five,  on  which  is  the  house  of  Walter 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  2$ 

Sherburne,  was  drawn  by  Tomlinson  and  Mason.  Lot  numbered 
six  was  drawn  by  Thomas  Packer.  The  Haines  family  have  been 
occupants  of  it  from  the  early  settlement  of  the  town.  Parallel 
to  this  range  of  lots  are  two  others.  The  middle  range  has  the 
odd  numbers,  and  the  northwestern  range  the  even. 

The  middle  row  of  lots  has  had  but  few  inhabitants.  On  lot 
numbered  seven,  which  was  drawn  by  Solly  &  March,  is  a  por- 
tion of  Samuel  B.  Sawyer's  farm.  Lot  fifteen  was  drawn  by 
Joshua  Pierce.  It  embraces  a  portion  of  the  Jacob  Home  farm. 
Lots  eleven  and  fifteen,  by  an  arrangement  with  Daniel  Pierce, 
came  into  the  possession  of  the  grantees  of  Wolfeborough.  Lot 
seventeen  was  drawn  by  John  Wentworth.  The  Nathan  Weeks 
place  was  within  its  limits. 

The  northwestern  tier  of  lots  bordered  on  Tuftonborough.  Lot 
numbered  eight  was  drawn  by  Meserve,  Blanchard  &  Co.,  and 
included  the  John  L.  Goldsmith  farm.  Lot  ten  was  drawn  by 
Theodore  Atkinson,  and  was  distant  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  rods  from  the  Ossipee  town  line  at  the  foot  of  Goldsmith 
Hill.  Lot  numbered  twelve  was  bounded  by  lots  ten,  eleven, 
fourteen,  and  Tuftonborough.  It  was  drawn  by  George  Jaffrey, 
and  was  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  rods  wide.  Lot  fourteen 
was  of  the  same  width,  and  was  bounded  by  lots  twelve,  thirteen, 
and  sixteen,  and  Tuftonborough.  It  was  drawn  by  John  Moffatt. 
Lot  numbered  sixteen  was  drawn  by  John  Odiorne,  and  included 
within  its  limits  a  portion  of  Beech  Pond.  Lot  numbered  eighteen 
extended  to  the  Great  Lot,  and  included  within  its  limits  the  site 
of  Elijah  Home's  last  dwelling.  It  fell  to  the  first  minister. 

In  the  Addition,  which  became  a  part  of  Wolfeborough  in  1800, 
lot  numbered  one,  owned  by  Jonathan  Warner,  had  an  extent  of 
nearly  nine  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  was  bounded  by  Brook- 
field,  Ossipee,  lots  six  and  seven  in  the  original  township  of 
Wolfeborough  and  lot  two  in  the  Addition.  Lot  two  was  bounded 
by  lots  one  and  three  in  the  Addition,  lots  eight  and  nine  in  the 
old  town,  and  Ossipee.  It  probably  included  within  its  limits 


30  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

the  Brown  Tavern,  for  many  years  a  noted  hostelry.  It  was 
owned  by  James  Stoodley.  Lot  three  was  bounded  by  lots  two 
and  four  in  the  Addition,  nine  and  ten  in  the  old  town,  the  Lords' 
Quarter,  and  Ossipee.  It  was  owned  by  Dr.  Hall  Jackson. 
Lots  one,  two,  and  three  were  of  the  same  size.  Lot  four  was 
bounded  by  three  and  five  in  the  Addition,  the  Lords'  Quarter, 
and  Ossipee.  It  was  owned  by  Stephen  Batson,  and  included 
the  mountain  and  pond  which  now  bear  his  name.  Lots  four  and 
five  each  contained  four  hundred  acres.  There  are  about  thirty- 
five  hundred  acres  of  land  in  the  Addition,  but  being  mountainous, 
it  was  estimated  at  the  time  of  its  annexation  to  Wolfeborough 
to  contain  less  than  three  thousand  acres. 

That  portion  of  Wolfeborough  that  came  into  the  possession 
of  the  town  proprietors  was  at  first  divided  into  twenty-four  lots. 
Two  of  them  were  conveyed  to  Paul  March  for  purposes  of  settle- 
ment, reducing  the  number  to  twenty-two.  The  Masonian  Pro- 
prietors' Quarter  was  divided  into  eighteen  lots,  and  the  Addition 
contained  five.  Thus  there  were  in  the  town  forty-seven  divisions 
of  land, — one  series  of  lots  being  numbered  from  one  to  twenty- 
two  ;  another,  from  one  to  eighteen ;  and  a  third,  from  one  to 
five.  There  were,  therefore,  in  each  series,  lots  numbering  from 
one  to  five,  a  circumstance  which  has  occasioned  some  per- 
plexities in  transfering  land. 


VIEW   FROM 


PANORAMIC  VIE//  C 


'OLFEBOROUGH   BAY 


CHAPTER  III. 

TOPOGRAPHY — BAYS  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH  HARBOR — SMITH'S  POND 
AND  RIVER — LAKE  WENTWORTH  AND  ITS  ISLANDS — ITS 
MEADOWS,  BEACHES,  AND  TRIBUTARY  STREAMS — CROOKED 
POND — LOON  ISLAND — SCENIC  VIEWS  FROM  THE  LAKE — 
TUMBLE-DOWN  DICK — COPPLE  CROWN — LONGSTACK — 
BELKNAP — OSSIPEE — PRESIDENTIAL  RANGES — NEIGHBOR- 
ING FOOT-HILLS — RUST'S  POND — PERRY'S  BROOK — MIRROR 
LAKE — BEACH,  LILY,  AND  BATSON'S  PONDS — MESERVE  AND 
FACTORY  BROOKS — CENTER  SQUARE,  STOCKBRIDGE,  BATSON, 
TRASK,  WHITEFACE,  AND  COTTON  MOUNTAINS — THE  VAL- 
LEY ROAD — MINERALS — PRODUCTS — INDIAN  RELICS. 

IN  the  foregoing  pages  it  has  been  the  purpose  to  show  where 
Wolfeborough  is — to  tell  of  its  boundaries,  its  additions,  and 
its  subdivisions ;  in  those  which  immediately  follow  it  will  be  the 
endeavor  to  show  what  it  is — to  describe  somewhat  its  mountains, 
hills,  plains,  valleys,  and  islands ;  its  lakes,  ponds,  and  streams. 
Within  the  territory  of  Wolfeborough  are  included  several 
bays,  that  set  in  from  Lake  Winnipesaukee.  The  most  important 
of  these  is  that  which  lies  south  of  the  principal  village.  It  has 
an  area  of  about  five  hundred  acres,  and  is  partially  shut  in  from 
the  broad  of  the  lake  by  islands,  which  renders  it  a  very  safe  har- 
bor. Farther  inland  is  a  smaller  bay  that  extends  to  the  foot 
of  the  falls  on  Smith's  River.  The  two  are  connected  by  a  narrow 
strait,  which  is  a  continuation  of  Smith's  River.  Another  bay 
sets  in  towards  South  Wolfeborough  village,  and  still  an- 
other towards  Wolfeborough  Neck.  A  large  bay,  formed 
by  the  projections  of  the  two  peninsulas,  Wolfeborough  Neck 
and  Tuftonborough  Neck,  lies  partly  within  the  town.  The  por- 
tion of  this  bay  within  the  limits  of  Wolfeborough  is  called 
"Winter  Harbor."  It  was  so  named  because  a  loaded  boat, 

31 


32  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

destined  for  Moultonborough,  was  forced  to  seek  shelter  here, 
was  frozen  in,  and  remained  during  the  winter. 

In  the  south  central  part  of  the  town  lies  a  body  of  water  nearly 
four  miles  long  and  three  miles  wide,  formerly  known  as  Smith's 
Pond,  but  now  called  Lake_Wentworth.  Smith's  River,  which 
connects  Smith's  Pond  with  Lake  Winnipesaukee,  and  Smith's 
Bridge,  the  part  of  Wolfeborough  village  situated  near  the  out- 
let of  Smith's  River,  derive  their  names  from  the  same  source, 
and  are  supposed  to  have  been  thus  called  from  an  English  hun- 
ter named  Smith,  who  visited  this  region.  Nothing  is  now  known 
of  his  history.  The  story  may  be  wholly  legendary.  It  is,  how- 
ever, certain  that  the  town  proprietors  applied  the  name  "Smith" 
to  the  pond  and  the  river  before  there  were  any  inhabitants  in 
the  town.  Still  it  has  been  deemed  proper  to  change  the  name 
of  the  pond,  or  lake,  to  that  of  the  town's  most  distinguished 
early  patron,  who  was  at  one  time  the  possessor  of  a  large  por- 
tion of  its  shore-line. 

The  lake  is  somewhat  oval  in  shape  and  has  an  area  of  3094 
acres.  It  has  twenty  islands,  the  most  important  of  which  are 
situated  in  the  central  part  of  the  lake.  The  largest  was  called 
Mill  Island  by  the  proprietors  of  the  town,  probably  because 
it  was  granted  to  the  builders  of  the  first  mills.  Subsequently, 
it  received  the  name  of  Stamp  Act,  which  it  still  retains.  Why 
it  was  thus  called  is  not  known.  The  town  proprietors  first 
granted  the  land  with  other  property  to  George  Meserve  as  a 
consideration  for  his  building  mills  at  the  falls  on  Smith's  River 
within  a  definite  time.  He  did  not  fully  comply  with  the  con- 
ditions of  the  agreement,  and  the  island  reverted  to  the  original 
owners.  In  1765,  Meserve  was  appointed  distributor  of  stamps 
for  New  Hampshire,  but  the  hostility  of  the  people  to  the  odious 
Stamp  Act  was  so  great  that  he  immediately  resigned  the  office 
on  arriving  at  the  province.  It  is  difficult  to  see  how  this  affair 
should  have  had  anything  to  do  with  the  name  of  the  island. 
The  name  not  being  euphonic,  and  to  the  present  generation 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


33 


apparently  meaningless,  should  be  changed.  Perhaps  it  would 
not  be  amiss  to  restore  the  original  name. 

The  island  was  covered  with  the  usual  forest  trees,  some  of 
them  lofty  pines.  Here,  from  the  recollection  of  the  oldest  in- 
habitant until  a  recent  date,  when  the  trees  were  felled,  was  a 
heronry.  The  area  of  the  island  is  ninety  acres.  At  its  east  end 
is  a  point  of  land  called  East  Cape  ;  south  of  this  is  a  sandy  recess 
in  the  shore  named  Big  Cove. 

North  of  Stamp  Act  Island  and  nearer  the  shore  of  the  lake, 
is  Triggs's  Island,  containing  twenty  acres  of  land.  It  takes 
its  name  from  Thomas  Triggs,  its  original  owner,  in  the  posses- 
sion of  whose  family  it  remained  until  the  decease  of  its  last 
member,  which  occurred  a  few  years  since. 

Farther  east,  and  north  of  Stamp  Act,  is  the  Mink  group,  con- 
sisting of  three  islands,  the  largest  of  which  contains  three  acres 
of  land.  West  of  Stamp  Act,  is  a  cluster  of  seven  islands  called 
"The  Sisters."  The  largest  one  contains  five  acres  and  the  next 
in  size,  three ;  the  others  are  small.  Most  of  this  group  are 
occupied  in  the  summer  by  cottagers.  Near  the  easterly  shore  of 
the  lake  is  Turtle  Island,  the  area  of  which  is  about  three  acres. 
A  causeway  from  it  to  the  mainland  is  partially  built.  This  is 
supposed  to  have  been  constructed  by  Governor  Wentworth. 
About  a  half-mile  from  the  southerly  shore  of  the  lake  is  an 
island-rock,  about  forty  feet  long  and  thirty  feet  wide,  called  the 
Governor's  Rock,  or  Tea  Rock.  Near  the  west  shore  of  the 
lake  is  another  similar  rock,  named  Gull  Rock,  where  a  gull 
was  formerly  accustomed  to  breed  its  young.  Near  the  north- 
western shore  of  the  lake  is  a  small  island  known  as  Goose 
Island.  Between  Stamp  Act  and  the  southern  shore  of  the  lake 
are  two  islands.  One  of  them,  containing  about  one  acre  of  land, 
was  formerly  called  Townsend's  Island.  It  is  now  known  as 
Bass  Island.  The  other,  situated  east  of  this,  is  smaller,  and  has 
no  name. 

South  of  Stamp  Act  are  several  huge  boulders,   which,  lying 


34 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


on  a  sandy  bottom,  rise  above  the  surface  of  the  water.  Near 
these  a  very  fine  echo  may  be  heard.  The  shores  of  the  lake  are 
generally  low.  There  are  several  beautiful  beaches  and  excellent 
natural  meadows.  Several  of  the  latter  border  the  streams  that 
flow  into  the  lake.  They  were  utilized  somewhat  in  the  early 
settlement  of  the  town,  before  the  forests  were  cleared,  for  fur- 
nishing hay.  The  principal  meadows  are  on  the  northeastern 
and  southwestern  shores  of  the  lake.  From  Moose  Point  on  the 
western  shore,  a  sand  beach  extends  for  several  miles.  Near  the 
outlet  of  the  Warren  Brook,  east  of  the  lake,  is  a  large  deposit 
of  alluvium  known  as  the  "Sands."  A  little  north  of  this  is  the 
only  point  where  land  much  elevated  borders  the  lake.  Here, 
Mount  Delight  reaches  the  shore,  and  near  here,  is  the  greatest 
depth  of  water  in  the  lake,  which  is  generally  shoal.  Farther  on, 
toward  the  south,  are  Townsend's  Sands,  Oak  Bluff,  Rocky 
Point,  Point  Breeze,  Profile  Rock,  and  Gate's  Sands. 

Ten  streams  flow  into  the  lake.  They  are  the  Harvey,  Hersey, 
Fernald,  Clay  Pit,  Rye  Field,  Warren,  Townsend,  Red,  and  Heath 
Brooks,  and  Willey's  Mill  Stream.  Harvey  Brook  flows  from  the 
west.  Some  seventy  years  ago,  William  Kent  built  on  it  a  saw- 
mill, which  was  afterwards  removed  to  the  upper  falls  on  Smith's 
River.  The  brook  now  furnishes  motive  power  for  the  ma- 
chinery of  a  carpenter's  shop.  It  rises  in  meadow-land  formerly 
belonging  to  George  Meserve,  one  of  the  original  town  pro- 
prietors ;  hence  probably  came  its  name,  as,  in  olden  times,  Har- 
vey and  Meserve  were  names  sometimes  used  interchangeably.  A 
little  north  of  Harvey,  is  Hersey  Brook,  the  outlet  of  Lily  (for- 
merly Sargeant's)  Pond.  It  has  a  course  of  two  miles,  with  a 
descent  of  about  one  hundred  feet.  Nearly  a  century  ago  there 
was  a  grist-mill  on  it,  owned  by  John  Lucas.  This  was  situated 
near  the  present  highway.  About  1820  William  Kent  and  James 
Hersey  erected  a  sawmill  farther  up  the  stream.  This  was  after- 
ward rebuilt  by  George  W.  Hersey.  None  of  these  mills  are  now 
standing.  Still  farther  north,  is  Fernald's,  in  earlv  times  called 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


35 


Rattle  Snake  Brook.  There  were  once  on  it  a  tannery  and  a 
shingle-mill. 

Northeast  of  this,  is  the  most  important  stream  that  flows  into 
Lake  Wentworth.  It  is  formed  by  the  confluence  of  the  outlet  of 
Batson's  Pond,  the  Seavey  Brook  and  other  small  streams.  For- 
merly its  water  was  used  as  motive  power  at  several  different 
localities ;  now  it  only  turns  the  machinery  at  V.  B.  Willey's  saw- 
mill. It  is  called  Willey's  Mill  Stream.  On  this  stream  were 
once  a  tannery  and  brick-yard  on  the  road  from  North  Wolfe- 
borough  to  Water  Village,  a  sawmill  and  a  grist-mill  on  that  now 
leading  from  Wolfeborough  Center  to  Ossipee,  and  a  small  tur- 
ner's shop  on  the  road  from  Center  Wolfeborough  to  North 
Wolfeborough. 

Farther  east  is  Clay  Pit  Brook,  so  called  because  clay  has  been 
dug  from  its  borders.  It  runs  through  a  large  meadow,  and  in 
early  times,  a  small  grist-mill  stood  on  its  banks.  Still  farther 
east,  is  Rye  Field  Brook,  one  branch  of  which  has  its  rise  in  Cot- 
ton Mountain.  On  its  banks  may  still  be  seen  evidences  of  the 
existence  of  a  sawmill,  which  is  supposed  to  have  been  built  by 
Governor  Wentworth.  At  the  "Sands"  flows  in  the  Warren  Brook, 
which  has  its  source  in  Brookfield,  and  flows  through  extensive 
meadows.  It  bears  the  name  of  a  family  once  living  on  its  banks, 
in  which  were  reared  to  adult  age  twenty-one  children.  Farther 
south  is  Townsend  Brook,  so  called  on  account  of  its  flowing 
through  the  farm  formerly  owned  by  Isaac  Townsend,  the  first 
minister  ordained  in  Wolfeborough.  Still  farther  south  is  an- 
other small  stream,  called  Red  Brook.  Its  waters  are  colored 
either  by  absorption  from  the  roots  of  shrubs  growing  in  it,  or  by 
percolation  through  mineralized  earth.  Next  in  order  is  the  South 
Branch,  or  Heath  Brook.  It  has  its  rise  in  New  Durham,  where 
on  its  banks  was  once  a  grist-mill.  It  flows  sluggishly  through 
extensive  meadows,  its  outlet  being  on  the  southern  shore  of  Lake 
Wentworth. 

At  least  thirty  square   miles  of  territory  are  drained  by  the 


36  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

tributaries  of  Lake  Wentworth.  A  considerable  portion  of  its 
volume  of  water  is  probably  furnished  by  springs  hidden  in  its 
bed.  Most  of  the  sources  of  the  streams  flowing  into  it  are  at 
some  distance  from  its  shore ;  hence  there  are  very  seldom  sud- 
den overflows  of  water,  and  the  lake  is  comparatively  free  from 
the  effects  of  droughts  or  freshets.  As  a  reservoir  it  is  remarkably 
uniform  in  its  supply  of  water. 

The  outlet  of  Lake  Wentworth  is  Smith's  River  on  its  western 
shore.  For  about  one-third  of  a  mile  this  is  a  narrow  stream.  It 
then  broadens  into  several  irregular  shaped  bays,  and  takes  the 
name  of  Crooked  Pond.  This  is  about  one  mile  long.  It  has 
one  small  island  called  Loon  Island.  One  of  its  bays  is  named 
Porcupine  Cove.  The  river  narrows  again  a  little  above  its  fall, 
which  is  twenty-eight  feet,  and  running  about  one-fourth  of  a 
mile,  flows  into  the  inner  bay  that  extends  to  Smith's  Bridge. 
Into  this  bay  flow  two  small  streams,  one  of  which  is  called  Var- 
ney's  Brook  because  of  its  running  through  the  premises  of  the 
Joseph  Varney  family.  On  this  many  years  ago  was  a  small  bark- 
mill.  The  other  stream  was  utilized  for  some  years  by  Hiram 
Ham,  a  manufacturer  of  lumber. 

The  scenic  views  from  Lake  Wentworth  are  very  attractive. 
Toward  the  southeast  lies  Pleasant  Valley,  its  acclivities  gradually 
rising  towards  Mount  Dick  in  Brookfield  and  the  towering  Copple 
Crown  in  New  Durham.  A  depressed  line  of  hills  continues  until 
Long  Stack,  partly  in  Wolfeborough,  is  reached,  while  farther  on, 
toward  the  south,  and  then  toward  the  west,  appear  the  moun- 
tains of  Alton,  Gilmanton,  and  Gilford,  including  the  Belknap 
range  with  its  numerous  peaks.  Toward  the  north  is  seen  the 
dark  browed  Ossipee,  more  distant,  the  rugged  Chocorua,  and 
still  farther  on,  encircled  by  its  lofty  neighbors,  the  hoary  head 
of  that  monarch  of  New  Hampshire  mounts — Washington.  With- 
in the  limits  of  Wolfeborough,  and  in  a  narrower  circle,  the  eye 
of  the  observer  beholds  Garland  Heights,  Center  Square,  Stock- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


37 


bridge,  Beacham,  Moody,  Batson,  Trask,  Whiteface,  and  Cotton 
Mountains,  Martin's  Hill  and  Mount  Delight. 

Rust's  Pond  is  situated  in  the  southerly  part  of  Wolfeborough. 
The  town  proprietors  named  it  Middle  Pond,  it  being  located  be- 
tween Lake  Wentworth  and  Lake  Winnipesaukee  and  not  far 
from  either  of  them.  (Both  the  lakes  were  then  termed  ponds.) 
Henry  Rust,  a  town  proprietor,  afterwards  came  into  possession 
of  the  lot  in  which  the  greater  part  of  the  pond  lies,  and  it  took 
his  name.  It  is  of  an  oval  shape,  and  has  an  area  of  perhaps  a 
hundred  acres.  Its  principal  tributary  is  Perry's  Brook,  which  takes 
its  rise  in  New  Durham  and  runs  through  a  farm  once  owned  by 
John  Perry.  A  small  brook  near  its  northern  shore  is  called 
Deland's  Brook.  The  water  of  Rust's  Pond  flows  into  Lake 
Winnipesaukee  by  a  stream,  which  in  a  distance  of  one-third  of 
a  mile  falls  seventy  feet,  furnishing  an  excellent  mill  privilege. 
As  the  traveler  from  Wolfeborough  village  to  South  Wolfe- 
borough  passes  over  the  brow  of  the  Brewster  Ridge,  there  sud- 
denly bursts  upon  his  sight  the  lakelet,  cradled  in  the  little  valley 
that  extends  nearly  to  the  base  of  the  diminutive  Pierce  mountain 
— a  landscape  picture  of  surpassing  loveliness. 

Mirror  Lake  lies  mostly  within  the  limits  of  Tuftonborough. 
It  was  first  known  as  Livius's  Pond,  taking  its  name  from  Peter 
Livius,  a  member  of  Governor  John  Wentworth's  council. 
Through  his  agents  Livius  commenced  farming  operations  on  the 
western  shore  of  the  pond.  There  he  dug  a  channel,  by  which  he 
purposed  to  drain  the  pond,  and  convert  it  into  a  grass  meadow. 
This  channel  still  exists.  He  erected  a  house,  the  cellar  of  which 
can  still  be  seen,  and  employed  a  large  number  of  laborers  under 
an  overseer  who  is  said  to  have  had  a  seat  on  the  top  of  a  stump 
twenty  feet  high,  where  he  could  overlook  his  gang  of  workmen. 
The  scheme  for  an  artificial  meadow  proved  a  failure,  either  be- 
cause of  the  unsuitable  character  of  the  soil,  or  Livius's  enforced 
departure  from  the  province  of  New  Hampshire.  Being  a  royalist, 
he  retired  to  Canada,  where  he  obtained  a  government  office.  In 


38  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

the  dark  days  of  the  Revoluntionary  War  he  wrote  to  General 
Sullivan  and  vainly  sought  to  induce  him  to  abandon  the  American 
cause.  The  name  Livius  was  contracted  to  Levis,  and  by  that 
name  the  pond  was  known  until  a  family  named  Lang  settled  on 
its  eastern  shore.  It  then  took  the  name  of  that  family,  and  re- 
tained it  until  a  few  years  ago,  when  a  post-office  was  established 
in  the  vicinity.  Since  then  it  has  been  called  Mirror  Lake.  It  is 
a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  and  its  present  name  is  both  appropri- 
ate and  euphonic  and  will  doubtless  be  abiding.  Tradition  says, 
and  no  doubt  speaks  truly,  that  the  outlet  of  the  pond  was  origi- 
nally at  the  "Narrows."  Since  the  time  of  Livius  the  water  has 
flowed  through  the  artificial  channel. 

Beech  Pond,  which  is  supposed  to  have  taken  its  name  from  the 
beech  forests  that  formerly  grew  on  its  borders — although  it  is 
not  certain  that  its  name  did  not  arise  from  its  fine  sand  beaches, 
and  that  it  should  not  have  been  called  Beach  Pond — is  a  superior 
reservoir  of  very  pure  water  which  furnishes  an  abundant  supply 
for  Wolfeborough  village,  distant  three  and  a  half  miles  from  it, 
and  situated  four  hundred  feet  below  it.  (The  exact  fall  of  the 
water  to  the  level  of  Lake  Winnipesaukee  is  four  hundred 
and  seventy-five  feet.)  The  pond  is  evidently  fed  by  springs 
whose  fountains  are  hidden  in  the  lofty  hills  that  border  its 
eastern  shore,  as  only  one  small  stream  flows  into  it.  Its  area  is 
three  hundred  acres.  Its  surplus  water  flows  through  a  short 
channel  into  Lower  Beech  Pond,  and  eventually  reaches  the  Saco 
River  in  Maine.  On  the  western  shore  of  the  pond  is  a  natural 
embankment  of  earth  about  one  hundred  rods  long  and  one  hun- 
dred feet  high.  A  narrow  valley  extends  to  its  base,  from  which 
issues  a  spring  whose  water  is  supposed  to  possess  medicinal  prop- 
erties. Many  years  ago  it  was  a  popular  resort  for  invalids.  This 
water  is  supposed  to  pass  through  mineralized  earth  from  the  pond 
above.  The  spring  is  one  of  the  sources  of  Nineteen  Mile  Brook 
which  empties  into  Lake  Winnipesaukee.  If  the  foregoing  hypoth- 
esis is  correct,  the  water  of  Beech  Pond  reaches  the  ocean  by 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


39 


two  outlets,  the  Saco  River  in  Maine  and  the  Merrimac  in  Massa- 
chusetts. There  are  very  few  inhabitants  dwelling  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  this  pond,  and  the  drainage  of  farm  buildings  and  fre- 
quented highways  does  not  contaminate  its  water.  It  is  sur- 
rounded by  pasture  and  woodland. 

Lily  Pond  is  situated  northwest  of  Center  Square.  It  is  circu- 
lar in  form,  and  has  an  area  of  nearly  two  hundred  acres.  Border- 
ing on  it  are  some  cranberry  meadows,  but  no  fine  beaches.  On 
its  muddy  bottom  grow  many  aquatic  plants,  among  them  a 
profusion  of  water-lilies,  which  in  their  season  cover  the  surface  of 
the  pond  with  a  mantle  of  white.  Until  within  a  few  years  this 
body  of  water  was  called  Sargeant's  Pond  from  the  name  of  the 
town  proprietor  within  the  limits  of  whose  lot  it  lay.  Two  brooks 
flow  into  the  pond ;  the  larger,  Hill's  Brook,  from  the  east ;  the 
other,  Hyde's  Brook,  which  is  quite  small,  from  the  north.  Its 
outlet  is  Hersey  Brook,  a  stream  about  two  miles  long,  which 
flows  into  Lake  Wentworth. 

Batson's  Pond,  which  derives  its  name  from  an  original  pro- 
prietor of  the  Addition,  is  situated  in  the  northerly  part  of  the 
town  near  Ossipee  line.  It  is  circular  in  form,  and  has  an  extent 
of  about  twenty  acres.  Its  water  flows  southerly  for  several  miles 
and  is  then  discharged  into  Lake  Wentworth.  Hidden  behind 
Batson's  Mountain,  and  at  some  distance  from  a  public  highway, 
it  has  probably  never  been  seen  by  one  in  twenty  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Wolfeborough. 

There  are  two  brooks  that  flow  directly  into  Lake  Winnipesau- 
kee.  One  is  a  small  stream  in  the  westerly  part  of  the  town 
known  as  Meserve  Brook.  It  rises  in  land  formerly  owned  by 
George  Meserve,  a  town  proprietor.  The  other  enters  the  lake 
near  South  Wolfeborough  village.  It  is  called  Rust's  Brook. 

The  surface  of  the  town  of  Wolfeborough  is  generally  uneven. 
It  has  several  fine  ridges  of  land  with  moderately  sloping  sides. 
Among  these  may  be  noticed  the  two  which  are  near  the  Bridge 
village,  one  rising  from  the  level  of  the  lake  toward  the  north  and 


40 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


the  other  toward  the  south,  also  the  background  of  Pleasant  Val- 
ley in  the  southeast,  a  portion  of  the  Governor  Wentworth  farm 
stil!  farther  east,  and  Garland  Heights.  Bickford's  Ridge,  in  the 
north,  is  perhaps  as  marked  as  any.  It  is  certainly  nearer  the 
clouds  than  the  others.  Much  of  the  town's  surface,  however, 
consists  of  irregular  hills,  of  moderate  size,  and  narrow  valleys. 
In  the  north  it  is  mountainous ;  yet  the  peaks  are  so  low  that  they 
are  generally  utilized  by  the  farmers.  The  most  noted  elevations 
are  those  which  will  now  be  described. 

Center  Square  is  noticeable  only  on  account  of  its  location,  it 
being  situated  near  the  center  of  the  original  township  of  Wolfe- 
borough.  Stockbridge  Mountain,  so  called  from  a  farmer  former- 
ly dwelling  at  its  base,  is  a  solitary  peak,  mostly  denuded  of  trees, 
situated  in  the  westerly  part  of  the  Masonian  division  of  the  town. 
It  affords  a  very  fine  view  of  the  Winnipesaukee  lake  region. 
East  of  this  mountain  is  a  chain  of  high  hills  sometimes  termed  the 
"Alps  of  Wolfeborough."  It  includes  Beacham  and  Moodey 
Mountains,  some  of  whose  peaks  are  twelve  hundred  feet  above 
the  ocean.  East  of  this  range,  is  Batson's  Mountain  with  an  alti- 
tude of  one  thousand  feet.  About  one  and  one-half  miles,  as  the 
bird  flies,  southeast  of  Batson's  is  Trask's  Mountain,  so  named 
from  a  family  that  lived  on  its  eastern  side.  Between  these  two 
mountains  is  a  deep,  narrow  valley,  through  which  runs  the  road 
leading  from  Wolfeborough  to  Ossipee.  About  two  miles  in  an 
easterly  direction,  Whiteface  rears  its  head  to  an  elevation  of 
twelve  hundred  feet,  just  equalling  the  height  of  Trask's.  A 
precipice  several  hundred  feet  high  on  its  eastern  side  gives  the 
mountain  its  name.  Trask's  and  Whiteface,  like  Batson's,  are 
within  the  limits  of  the  Addition. 

About  two  miles  southeast  of  Whiteface  is  Cotton  Mountain, 
which  is  so  called  from  a  group  of  families  of  that  name  that  have 
for  many  years  dwelt  on  its  sides  and  in  the  adjacent  valleys.  Its 
first  name  was  Cutter's  Mountain,  it  being  included  within  the 
limits  of  the  lot,  which  in  the  division  of  the  town  fell  to  Dr.  A.  R. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  41 

Cutter.  The  height  of  this  mountain  is  only  fifty  feet  less  than 
that  of  Whiteface.  It  is  the  most  southerly  of  the  four  distinct  ele- 
vations of  land  about  equal  in  height  and  nearly  equi-distant  from 
each  other  that  are  situated  in  an  almost  direct  line  on  the  north- 
east side  of  Wolfeborough. 

The  water  which  flows  down  the  north  side  of  this  mountain 
reaches  the  ocean  by  Saco  River,  that  from  the  east  side  makes 
its  way  to  the  Piscataqua,  while  that  from  the  west  side  forms 
a  tributary  to  Lake  Wentworth,  and  eventually  arrives  at  the  Mer- 
rimac.  Thus  the  rain,  which  falls  within  a  circle  whose  diameter 
is  about  a  half  mile,  reaches  the  ocean  by  three  distinct  rivers  that 
open  into  it  from  three  different  states ;  viz.,  the  Saco  in  Maine, 
the  Piscataqua  in  New  Hampshire,  and  the  Merrimac  in  Massa- 
chusetts. 

The  points  from  which  fine  landscape  views  may  be  obtained 
are  numerous  in  Wolfeborough.  Perhaps  that  from  Trask's 
Mountain,  the  top  of  which  can  be  easily  reached  with  carriages, 
is  of  greater  extent  than  any  other  in  the  town.  Here,  in  almost 
every  direction,  rise  isolated  peaks,  or  chains  of  mountains  of 
ever-varying  contour,  while  the  valleys  are  diversified  with  lakes 
and  streams,  that,  glistening  in  the  sunlight,  form  a  striking  con- 
trast to  the  dark  shades  of  the  forest-clad  hills.  In  the  north,  is 
seen  the  Kearsarge  of  Bartlett ;  in  the  west,  the  Kearsarge  of 
Warner.  Alike  in  name,  they  resemble  each  other  in  aspect. 
From  Mount  Dick,  situated  in  Brookfield,  a  little  outside  the 
limits  of  Wolfeborough,  can  be  obtained  a  bird's-eye  view  of  the 
town  and  the  Winnipesaukee  Lake  region  that  furnishes  a 
panorama  of  surpassing  loveliness.  Copple  Crown,  eighteen  hun- 
dred feet  high,  although  within  the  limits  of  New  Durham,  is  yet, 
on  account  of  its  proximity  to  Wolfeborough,  a  striking  feature 
in  its  scenery  . 

Wolfeborough  is  not  rich  in  minerals.  Small  quantities  of  bog- 
iron  have  been  found  on  the  northern  shore  of  Lake  Wentworth. 
A  chalky  earth  has  been  obtained  on  Stamp  Act  Island.  Crystals 


42  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

of  quartz  and  garnets  are  sometimes  found.  Coarse  granite 
abounds.  There  are  deposits  of  clay  in  different  localities.  A  con- 
siderable part  of  the  principal  village  is  built  over  a  substratum 
of  this  earth. 

The  soil  of  Wolfeborough  is  varied,  but  generally  fertile,  readily 
producing  Indian  corn,  wheat,  and  other  small  grains ;  grass  both 
for  hay  and  pasturage ;  also  potatoes  and  such  vegetables  as  are 
adapted  to  a  northern  climate  in  great  perfection.  Pears  do  fairly 
well ;  apples  extraordinarily  so.  Plums  and  cherries  are  with 
difficulty  raised,  not  so  much  on  account  of  defects  in  the  soil  and 
climate  as  the  prevalence  of  harmful  insects. 

The  primitive  forests  of  Wolfeborough  were  diversified.  White 
pine  prevailed  in  the  central  and  southwestern  portion  of  the 
town.  One  locality  is  still  called  ''Pine  Hill."  Hemlock,  beech, 
maple,  oak,  and  other  hard  woods  were  to  be  found  in  all  parts 
of  the  town.  Masts  cut  in  the  vicinity  of  Lake  Wentworth  were 
floated  across  that  body  of  water  and  down  the  upper  section  of 
Smith's  River  to  a  cove  situated  in  Wolfeborough  Falls,  still 
called  "Mast  Landing.'' 

Little  is  known  of  the  history  of  the  aborigines  who  made  their 
homes  on  the  territory  now  included  within  the  limits  of  Wolfe- 
borough  and  other  lake  towns.  That  the  shores  of  Winnipesau- 
kee  were  to  the  denizens  of  the  forest  a  desirable  abode  or  a  fre- 
quent resort,  is  not  to  be  doubted.  Here  they  could  easily  obtain 
an  abundance  of  peltry  and  foods.  Sometimes,  when  they  had 
been  on  marauding  expeditions  to  the  settlements  on  the  sea- 
coast,  they  had  been  pursued  to  Lake  Winnipesaukee.  On  its 
shores  the  English  built  a  fort  and  stationed  a  garrison  of  scouts 
to  protect  the  frontier  towns.  The  Indians  which  dwelt  in  this 
region  are  supposed  to  have  been  subject  to  the  Penacook  tribe, 
whose  headquarters  were  on  the  Merrimac  River,  where  the  city 
of  Concord  now  stands.  The  chief  of  the  Penacooks  governed 
all  the  tribes  on  that  river  and  its  tributaries.  Indian  relics,  such 
as  axes,  chisels,  and  other  stone  tools,  have  been  found  on  the 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


43 


borders  of  streams  and  ponds  of  Wolfeborough.  Many  years  ago 
a  stone  hearth  and  several  caches  were  discovered  on  the  southern 
shore  of  Lake  Wentworth.  Within  the  limits  of  Pine  Hill  ceme- 
tery there  was,  when  Wolfeborough  was  first  settled,  a  cleared 
spot  of  ground  called  the  "Indian  Dance." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

NOTICE  OF  PROPRIETORS'  MEETING — FORM  OF  CONTRACT — NOTE 
TO  JOSIAH  MILES — MARCH'S  CONTRACT — TITLES  TO  PRO- 
PRIETORS' LOTS — RUST'S  DEED  AND  A  DESCRIPTION  OF  His 
LOT — DESCRIPTION  OF  SUNDRY  LOTS — GEORGE  MESERVE'S 
CONTRACT  TO  ERECT  MILLS — LIVIUS'  PROPOSITION — ME- 
SERVE'S FAILURE  AND  THE  NEW  CONTRACT — LANDS  FOR- 
FEITED BY  A  FEW  PROPRIETORS  AND  RE-GRANTED  TO  GOV- 
ERNOR WTENTWORTH — BLAKE  AND  LlBBEY  FELL  TREES — 

RUSTIC  SURGERY — TOWN  PERMANENTLY  SETTLED  IN  1768 
— EARLIER  VISITORS  IN  THE  TOWN. 

A  LTHOUGH  the  action  of  the  town  proprietors  of  Wolfe- 
/~V  borough  in  some  matters  has  been  already  partially  de- 
scribed, yet  as  the  proprietary  records  are  not  very  full  or  explicit, 
copies  of  certain  documents,  fortunately  preserved,  that  may  help 
to  a  better  understanding  of  that  action,  are  here  introduced. 

Here  follows  the  warrant  for  what  was  probably  the  second 
proprietary  meeting: — 

"Province  of  To  the  Proprietors  of  the  Tract  of  Land 

New  Hampshire.  called  Wolfs  Borough. — 

Greeting: 

You  are  hereby  Notified  and  required  to  assemble  yourselves 
at  the  dwelling  House  of  Mr.  John  Stavers,  Innholder,  in 
Portsmo.,  on  Wenesclay,  the  3d  Day  of  Sept.  next,  at  Six  of  the 


**  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Clock  in  the  afternoon,  then  and  there  to  receive  the  Report  of 
the  Committee  employed  to  Lay  out  said  Tract,  if  they  are  ready 
for  the  same — to  examine  the  Treasurer's  ammounts. — To  raise 
such  Sum  or  Sums  of  money  as  may  be  found  necessary. — To  de- 
termine some  method  relating  delinquent  Proprietors'  taxes. — To 
alter  the  Name  of  the  said  Tract  Called  Wolfs  Borough,  if  you 
think  proper, and  to  door  act  on  any  other  matter  or  Thing  relating 
to  said  Proprietry,  as  shall  by  you  be  thought  Proper  &  needfull. 

Dated  at  Portsmouth  the  5th  Day  of  August,  anno  Domini,  1760. 

David  Sewall,  Prop.  Clerk. 
Not't  Ten  the  6th  of  August,  1760. 

3  Sept.  Do.  4. — Proprietors  met  &  voted  that  Dan'l  Peirce  Esqr. 
be  moderator  for  this  meeting.  Voted  this  meeting  adjourned  to 
the  1 7th  of  this  Instant  September  at  place  before  mentioned  7 
o'clock  afternoon." 

Here  is  the  form  of  a  contract  to  be  made  with  any  settlers  :  — 

"This  Indenture  made  &  Executed  by  &  Between  Paul  March,  John 
Wentworth  Jun'r  &  Ammi  Ruhamah  Cutter,  all  of  Portsmouth  in  the 
Province  of  New  Hampr.  Gentlemen  as  a  Committee  of  the  Proprietors 
of  a  Tract  of  Land  in  said  Province  called  Wolfborough  for  this  Special 
Purpose  Chosen  and  Appointed  at  a  Meeting  of  the  Proprietors  Legally 
assembled  Decem'r  8th,  1762,  of  the  one  Part  &  L.  M.  of  Portsmouth 
afores'd  f  eoman  of  the  other  Part. 

Now  this  Indenture  witnesses  That  the  said  Committee  in  Pursuance  of 
their  said  Trust  for  Promoting  the  Settlement  of  said  Tract,  In  Con- 
sideration of  the  Covinants  herein  expressed  on  the  Part  of  said  L. 
M.  to  be  done  and  perform'd  have  and  hereby  Do  give,  grant,  Bargain, 
Sell,  Convey  and  Confirm  unto  him  the  said  L.  M.,  all  the  Right, 
Title,  Interest,  Property  &  Demand  the  said  Proprietors  have  unto 

acres  of  Land  within  said  Town  ship  being  No. in  a  plan  of 

said  Township  Returnd  by  Walter  Bryant  Surveyor  with  the  Prive- 
lidges  and  appurtenances  thereof  to  have  and  to  hold  the  said  de- 
scribed Premises  with  the  Privelidges  thereof  to  him  the  said  L.  M. 
his  Heirs  &  Assigns  to  his  and  their  use  Benefit  and  Behoof  forever 
and  the  said  Committee  do  covenant  Grant  and  agree  to  and  with  the 
said  L.  M.  that  within  the  Term  of  Three  Years  they  will  pay  or 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


45 


cause  to  be  paid  unto  him  the  said  L.  M.  or  his  Order  the  Sum  of 

£ old  Tenor  money  of  the  Province  of  New  Hampr.  or  other 

money  equal  thereto.  Whereupon  the  said  L.  M.  Doth  on  his  part 
Covenant  Grant  &  agree  to  and  with  the  said  Comee.  their  Exer.  & 
adminr.  that  he  will  within  Three  years  from  the  Date  hereof  clear 
up  Five  acres  of  Land  fit  for  the  Mowing  &  Plowing  and  Build  a 
House  18  feet  Square  &  will  Reside  with  said  Tract  of  Land  called 
Wolf  borough  for  the  Term  of  15  Years  to  the  true  and  Faithfull  per- 
formance of  which  the  said  Partys  have  hereunto  Interchangeably 
Set  their  Hands  &  Seals  the Day  of,  &c." 

The  committee  on  settlements  had  at  some  time  made  arrange- 
ments with  Josiah  Miles,  Elisha  Bryant,  and  others  to  settle.  It 
appears  that  they  had  not  complied  with  the  terms  agreed  on,  and 
here  is  a  copy  of  a  letter,  the  purport  of  which  will  be  readily  un- 
derstood. 

"Portsmouth  Nov'r  nth,  1765. 

Capt.  Josiah  Miles,  Sir — As  you  have  thought  fitt  to  neglect 
fulfilling  your  agreement  with  the  Proprietors  of  Wolfeborough 
in  Setling  a  number  of  families,  &c.  &  have  not  complied  with  any 
part  thereof  we  think  it  necessary  to  advise  you  that  we  look  upon 
Said  agreement  as  wholly  void  &  of  none  Effect  &  that  before  you 
pretend  to  do  anything  in  Setling  s'd  Township  You  have  a  new 
bargain  to  make  with  us — for  which  end  it  will  be  highly  neces- 
sary you  should  meet  us  here  as  soon  as  your  Conveniency  will 
admit. 

We  are  &c. 

D.  P. 
D.  R. 
A.  R.  C. 
J.P." 

In  the  autumn  of  1765.  Paul  March  made  a  contract  with  the 
proprietors,  of  which  the  following  is  the  copy : 

"Portsmouth,  Nov.  n,  1765. 
Whereas  Capt.  Josiah  Miles  has  forfeited  his  agreement  with 


46 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


the  Proprietors  of  Wolfeborough  with  Regard  to  Settleing  said 
Township  &  has  not  complied  with  any  part  thereof,  the  same 
necessarily  becoming  void  &  of  none  effect,  Therefore  we  the  Sub- 
scribers being  a  Committee  fully  impowered  to  Contract  with  any 
persons  to  Settle  Said  Township  do  hereby  agree  with  Paul 
March  Esqr.  that  in  consideration  of  his  Settleing  ten  Families 
this  fall  or  Winter  on  that  part  of  said  Township  adjoining  to 
Tuftonboro'  &  which  we  have  sat  off  for  that  purpose  we  will 
confirm  to  each  Settler  One  hundred  &  fifty  acres  of  Land  and  to 
s'd  March  the  same  Quantity  of  land — that  is  150  Acres — for  his 
trouble  herein.  It  is  to  be  understood  that  each  Settler  shall  have 
by  the  first  day  of  May  next  four  acres  of  Land  Cleared  fenced  & 
fit  for  tilling  one  half  of  which  to  be  sowed  or  planted  next  Spring 
&  by  the  first  day  of  October  next  to  have  a  good  tenantable 
House  built,  at  least  twenty  feet  Square — or  equal  thereto — &  to 
be  there  inhabiting  on  the  Spot  &  there  to  remain  ten  years  mak- 
ing progressive  improvements,  or  some  one  else  in  his  or  her 
stead. 

Copy. 

D.  Pierce 
Dan'l  Rindge 
A.  R.  Cutter 
Jno.  Parker. 
Province  of 
New  Hamps. 

I  the  Subscriber  do  hereby  agree  with  the  Committee  above 
mentioned  to  comply  with  &  fulfill  in  every  Respect  the  above 
written  agreement  upon  Penalty  of  forfeiting  my  Right  in  the 
Township  of  Wolfeborouo'h  £  twenty  five  pounds  Lawful  Money 
besides.  In  Witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  Hand  & 
Seal  the  nth  clay  of  Oct'r,  1765. 

Paul  March  (L.  S.) 

Witnesses. 

George  Mesen  e 
Will'm  Tor  rev" 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  47 

March  did  not  comply  with  the  terms  of  the  foregoing  contract ; 
but,  as  will  subsequently  appear,  he  did  evidently  commence  a 
course  of  action  that  essentially  promoted  the  settlement  of  the 
town. 

The  titles  by  which  the  town  proprietors  held  their  respective 
lots  of  land  were  evidently  established  by  the  record  of  the  draw- 
ing of  said  lots  in  the  "Proprietary  Book  of  Record"  by  John 
Parker,  proprietors'  clerk,  a  sworn  officer.  This  drawing  was 
according  to  a  "Plan  of  Wolfborough"  prepared  by  Walter 
Bryant,  Jun.  agreeably  to  a  survey  made  by  him,  and  took  place, 
as  previously  determined  by  a  vote  of  the  town  proprietors,  at  the 
house  of  Zachariah  Foss,  innholder,  in  Portsmouth.  N.  H.,  Feb. 
19,  1766.  The  "Plan  of  Wolfborough"  as  well  as  the  account 
of  the  drawing  was  placed  on  the  "Proprietary  Book  of  Record." 

In  only  one  instance  is  it  known  that  the  town  proprietors  gave 
a  written  conveyance  of  land  to  one  of  their  number.  Surveyor 
Bryant  had  estimated  that  Wolfeborough  Neck  contained  twelve 
hundred  acres  of  land,  and  divided  it  into  two  lots,  which  were 
drawn  by  John  Parker  and  Henry  Rust.  An  actual  survey,  how- 
ever, showed  that  the  "Neck"  contained  only  five  hundred  and 
forty-seven  acres.  This  was  given  to  Parker,  and  Rust  was  al- 
lowed to  take  six  hundred  acres  from  the  "Bryant  Reservation." 

Here  is  a  copy  of  the  conveyance  of  his  lot : — 

"Wolfborough  May  2Oth  1767  Pursuant  to  Orders  from  Mr. 
John  Parker,  the  Proprietors  Clerk  of  said  Wolfborough,  I  have 
laid  out  to  Capt.  Henry  Rust  one  of  the  Proprietors  of  said  Wolf- 
borough  Six  Hundred  Acres  of  Land  in  said  Township  as  his 
Share  and  Proportion  in  the  Division  of  the  Lands  in  said  Town- 
ship, regard  being  had  to  the  Situation,  Quantity  &  Quality  of 
said  Lands,  which  Lot  is  Bounded  as  followeth.  Viz.,  Beginning 
at  the  Northeast  Bay  of  Winnipisiokee  pond,  where  the  Dividing 
Line  of  the  Highway  Between  Lott  Number  fourteen  in  said 
Town  (and  one  Thousand  &  Fifty  Acres  left  &  Intended  for  Elisha 


48  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Bryant  &  other  Settlers  in  the  Southeast  Corner  of  said  Town- 
ship) takes  its  Departure  from  said  Pond  &  thence  running 
Northeast  bounding  on  said  Highway  which  makes  the  Afore- 
said Division  and  also  by  part  of  Lott  Number  Thirteen  to  the 
Westerly  Corner  of  Lott  Number  Twelve  thence  turning  off  at 
right  Angles  and  Running  Southeast  on  the  highway  adjoining 
Lott  number  Twelve  to  a  Tree  marked  No.  four  on  one  side  & 
three  on  the  other  side  thence  turning  off  at  right  Angles  and  run- 
ning Southwest  to  the  Southwesterly  Boundary  Line  of  said 
Township  thence  turning  off  at  right  Angles  and  running  North- 
west to  the  aforesaid  Pond  and  also  by  said  Pond  to  the  Bounds 
first  Mentioned,  which  is  Lott  No.  15  in  said  Township.  Laid 
out  by  Walter  Bryant  Jun.  Lott  Layer  for  said  Proprietors  re- 
corded agreeably  to  the  Return  made  by  said  Walter  Bryant  Jun. 
which  is  on  File. 

John  Parker,  Proprietors  Clerk." 

As  within  the  limits  of  this  lot  is  situated  the  principal  part  of 
the  village  of  South  Wolfeborough,  it  seems  proper  to  more  fully 
describe  it.  Beginning  at  the  bay  referred  to  in  the  foregoing 
conveyance  was  a  range-road  which  extended  to  Lake  Went- 
worth,  a  distance  of  four  hundred  and  forty-four  rods.  For  three 
hundred  and  fifty  rods  this  range  was  the  northwesterly  boundary 
of  Rust's  lot,  and  separated  it  from  lot  fourteen  (Treadwell's) 
and  lot  thirteen  (King's).  That  portion  of  this  range  which  now 
connects  the  highway  leading  to  South  Wolfeborough  with  the 
one  leading  to  Pleasant  Valley  was  subsequently  opened  to  the 
public.  At  a  point  on  this  range  ninety-four  rods  distant  from 
Lake  Wentworth,  commenced  another  range  road,  now  a  public 
highway,  which  extended  to  New  Durham  line.  For  two  hundred 
and  seventy-five  rods  this  range  formed  the  northeasterly  bound- 
ary of  Rust's  lot,  and  separated  it  from  lot  twelve  (Thomas 
Wentworth's).  The  other  lines  of  the  lot  are  easily  determined,  one 
running  directly  to  Lake  Winnipesaukee  and  the  other  forming 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


49 


a  portion  of  its  shore.  Within  the  limits  of  the  Rust  lot,  were 
situated  the  larger  portion  of  Rust's  Pond,  the  Col.  Rust  farm, 
afterwards  known  as  the  Parker  farm,  the  William  Rust  farm,  the 
Henry  Rust  farm,  generally  called  the  "Rust  farm,"  and  the  Rich- 
ard Rust  farm.  A  considerable  portion  of  the  last  named  farm 
still  remains  in  the  possession  of  the  Rust  family,  and  the  greater 
part  of  South  Wolfeborough  is  built  on  land  that  was  once  a  por- 
tion of  it. 

Lots  thirteen,  fourteen,  sixteen,  and  seventeen  are,  as  a  whole, 
more  densely  populated  than  other  portions  of  the  town,  and  the 
endeavor  is  made  to  determine  with  a  tolerable  degree  of  ac- 
curacy their  boundary  lines. 

Lots  thirteen  and  fourteen  were  situated  between  Lake  Winni- 
pesaukee  and  Lake  Wentworth,  the  former  adjoining  Wentworth, 
and  the  latter  Winnipesaukee,  their  southeast  border  being  the 
range-road  which  extended  from  one  lake  to  the  other,  the  head 
of  the  Rust  lot,  and  their  northwestern  boundary  a  parallel  line 
which  separated  them  from  lot  sixteen  (Sewall's)  and  lot  seven- 
teen (Torrey's).  The  abutting  line  between  these  two  lots  prob- 
ably extended  from  a  point  near  the  site  of  the  Parker  house,  and 
ran  southwesterly  of  the  older  Daniel  Brewster  house  to  a  point 
in  the  farm  of  Joseph  L.  Avery,  northeast  of  the  present  high- 
way and  nearly  opposite  Green  Street.  Each  lot  contained  four 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land,  having  a  length  and  breadth  of 
about  equal  extent. 

Lots  sixteen  and  seventeen  had  the  same  southeastern  line  al- 
ready described,  bordering  on  lots  thirteen  and  fourteen.  Their 
combined  northwestern  boundary  line  was  seven  hundred  and 
eighty  rods  in  length,  a  portion  of  the  range-road  that  ran  from 
Lake  Winnipesaukee  near  Sewall's  Point  to  Center  Square.  The 
abutting  line  between  these  two  lots  commenced  a  little  east  of 
the  Joseph  Varney  premises  near  Bay  Street,  ran  in  the  rear  of 
the  site  of  the  shoe  factories  to  Pickering's  Corner,  and  con- 
tinued in  the  same  general  direction  until  it  reached  the  neighbor- 


^o  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

hood  of  Green  Street.  This  description  of  lines  determines  the 
location  of  Sewall's  lot.  Its  northwestly  line  to  Sewall's  Point 
was  three  hundred  and  eighty  rods  long ;  that  to  Clark's  Point, 
probably  less  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  rods.  The  lot  at  its 
widest  part  measured  two  hundred  and  eighty  rods,  but  was  very 
irregularly  shaped.  It  contained  four  hundred  and  forty  acres. 

Three  lines  of  lot  seventeen  have  already  been  described.  The 
other,  the  northeastern  line,  abutted  on  lot  eighteen,  which 
eventually  became  a  part  of  the  Wentworth  Farm.  It  was  sep- 
arated from  that  by  a  range-road  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
rods  long,  which  commenced  at  a  small  bay  that  sets  in  from 
Lake  Wentworth,  near  Moose  Point.  This  lot  was  four  hundred 
rods  long,  two  hundred  and  eighty  rods  wide,  and  contained 
seven  hundred  acres.  Writhin  its  limits,  extending  from  Picker- 
ing's Corner  to  the  land  now  occupied  by  Charles  D.  Hersey,  was 
the  one-hundred-acre  mill-lot,  a  tract  one  hundred  and  sixty  rods 
long  and  one  hundred  rods  wide,  which  now  includes  within  its 
boundaries  the  most  of  the  business  section  of  Wolfeborough 
Falls. 

From  the  foregoing  description  of  the  boundaries  and  divisions 
of  lots  thirteen,  fourteen,  sixteen,  and  seventeen  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  territory  included  within  these  four  lots  was  either  bor- 
dered or  crossed  by  three  parallel  lines  that  began  at  Lake 
Winnipesaukee  and  ran  in  a  northeast  direction,  two  of  them 
reaching  Lake  Wentworth,  and  the  other  the  extreme  south- 
western border  of  the  Wentworth  Farm.  Transverse  lines  sep- 
arated lot  thirteen  from  lot  fourteen,  and  lot  sixteen  from  lot 
seventeen.  These  lines  were  not  continuous,  the  former  being 
situated  about  fifty  rods  northeast  of  the  latter.  Lot  thirteen  had 
but  one  set  of  buildings  on  it,  those  erected  by  Daniel  Brewster; 
all  those  situated  on  South  Main  Street,  from  the  Henry  Rust 
line  to  Green  Street,  are  within  the  limits  of  lot  fourteen.  Almost 
the  whole  compact  part  of  the  "Bridge."  including  Sewall  Street 
and  Sewall's  Point,  is  within  the  limits  of  lot  sixteen.  About  one- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  $i 

half  of  Factory  Street,  that  part  of  South  Main  Street  between 
Pickering's  Corner  and  Green  Street,  Center  and  Pine  Streets,  the 
whole  of  Wolfeborough  Falls,  Whitten's  Neck,  and  the  most  of 
Bay  Street  are  within  the  limits  of  lot  seventeen.  "King's  Hill," 
"Sewall's  Point,"  and  "Torrey's  Opening" — terms  applied  to  cer- 
tain localities  at  the  time  of  the  early  settlement  of  the  town — 
indicate  the  ownership  of  certain  original  lots. 

The  proprietors  of  Wolfeborough  obtained  possession  of  the 
township  in  the  autumn  of  1759.  It  is  not  known  that  special 
efforts  were  made  to  secure  settlers  until  the  spring  of  1762,  when 
PauMVlarch,  John  Wejntworth,  and  Dr.  Ammi  R.  Cutter  were 
appointed  a  committee  with  authority  to  offer  gifts  of  land  and 
money  to  settlers,  and  adopt  such  other  measures  as  would  be 
likely  to  promote  settlements.  Their  efforts  were  not  successful. 
Other  members  were  added  to  the  committee,  and  its  powers  were 
enlarged :  still  the  coveted  success  failed  to  materialize.  At  the 
beginning  of  the  year  1766  no  permanent  settlers  had  been  se- 
cured. 

On  May  26  a  meeting  was  held  to  consider  the  proposal  of 
George  Meserve  to  build  a  saw-mill  and  a  grist-mill  on  Smith's 
River.  The  agreement  made  between  Meserve  and  the  pro- 
prietors \vas  that  Meserve  should  build  a  saw-mill  "to  be  ready  to 
go"  by  the  last  of  November  and  a  grist-mill  in  two  years  from 
date.  That  is,  the  saw-mill  was  to  be  fit  for  use  in  November, 
1766,  and  the  grist-mill  in  May,  1768.  The  proprietors  were  to 
give  Mieserve  the  right  of  ownership  to  the  mill-lot  of  one  hundred 
acres  with  all  the  privilege  pertaining  thereto,  the  largest  island 
in  Smith's  Pond,  supposed  to  contain  one  hundred  acres,  and 
forty-five  pounds,  lawful  money.  Meserve  was  to  pay  for  any 
excess  of  land,  should  it  contain  more  than  one  hundred  acres, 
and  give  the  proprietry  a  bell,  when  it  should  be  of  use  in  the 
township.  Peter  Livius,  who  had  commenced  an  agricultural  en- 
terprise in  Tuftonborough,  on  the  shore  of  the  pond  in  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  town,  desired  to  have  an  interest  in  the  mills  equal 


c2  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

to  a  Wolfeborough  proprietor,  and  was  allowed  the  privilege.  It 
is  probable  that  Meserve  built  the  saw-mill  that  season,  but  not 
the  grist-mill. 

October  u,  1769,  the  proprietors  took  the  following  action  in 
relation  to  the  matter : 

"Whereas  the  Conditions  on  which  the  Mill  Stream  &  privilege 
at  Smith's  River  were  agreed  to  be  granted  away,  appear  to  this 
propriety  not  to  have  been  complyed  with  in  the  Article  of  a  Grist 
Mill  as  well  with  respect  to  the  time  as  the  Quality  thereof  in  the 
said  Conditions  expressed — therefore  Voted  that  the  same  Stream 
&  privilege  are  forfeited  &  revert  to  the  Grantors  for  non-perform- 
ing the  said  Conditions — and  that  Henry  Rust  be  and  hereby  is 
appointed  &  authorized  special  Agent  &  Attorney  to  the  Pro- 
prietors to  enter  into  &  take  into  his  actual  possession  the  said 
Mill  privilege  and  Stream  and  all  buildings  thereon  for  the  use 
of  said  Proprietors."  The  buildings  were  probably  a  saw- 
mill and  dwelling-house,  which  Meserve  had  erected,  having  re- 
ceived the  pledged  forty-five  pounds. 

March  28,  1770,  it  was  voted  "that  the  Mill  Stream  &  Privilege 
on  Smith's  River  with  the  Appurtenances  which  were  formerly 
granted  to  George  Meserve,  but  were  forfeited  and  reverted  to 
the  Proprietors,  be  &  hereby  are  granted  to  Dr.  A.  R.  Cutter  & 
David  Sewall  to  them  &  their  Heirs  &  Assigns  forever  on  Con- 
dition that  they  have  a  good  Grist-Mill  built  to  the  Acceptance 
of  the  Proprietors  in  eighteen  months  from  this  Date  &  that  they 
keep  said  Mill  &  the  saw  mill  in  good  Order  &  Repair." 

At  a  proprietors'  meeting  held  March  13,  1771,  George  King, 
William  Torrey,  and  John  Parker  were  appointed  a  committee 
to  inquire  if  the  mills  met  the  required  conditions,  and  report  at 
the  adjournment. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting,  held  May  7,  the  committee  above 
mentioned  made  the  following  report : 

"It  appears  that  Ammi  Ruhamah  Cutter  and  David  Sewall  have 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


53 


erected  a  good  Saw  Mill  &  Grist  Mill  on  a  Stream  issueing  from 
Smith's  Pond  into  Winnipissiokee  Lake  &  upon  the  Land  &  Falls 
in  Wolfeborough  commonly  called  the  Mill  privilege  &  have  fully 
complied  on  their  part  with  the  proposed  Conditions  of  their  hav- 
ing the  Lands  called  the  Mill  privilege  with  the  Falls  Stream  & 
Appurtenances  containing  one  hundred  Acres  together  with  a  cer- 
tain Island  in  Smith's  Pond  called  Mill  Island  suppossed  to  con- 
tain one  hundred  acres." 

Upon  hearing  this  report  of  the  committee,  the  following  ac- 
tion was  taken : — 

"Voted  that  the  said  Land  called  the  Mill  Lot  with  the  Mill 
privileges  therein  together  with  the  aforesaid  Island  called  Mill 
Island  now  in  the  Actual  Tenure  &  Occupation  of  the  said  Cutter 
&  Sewall  with  the  Buildings  and  Appurtances  be  and  hereby  are 
given  granted  and  Confirmed  to  them  the  said  Cutter  &  Sewall 
their  several  and  respective  Heirs  and  Assigns  forever,  and  to 
perpetuate  this  Grant  and  Confirmation  John  Parker  the  Clerk  of 
this  Proprietry  is  hereby  directed  at  the  Request  of  the  said  Cutter 
&  Sewall  to  make  an  Exemplification  of  the  same  in  the  Name  of 
the  Proprietors  and  having  affixed  the  Proprietors'  Seal  thereto 
to  acknowledge  the  same  before  any  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  the 
Province  as  the  Act  and  Deed  of  this  Proprietry." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors  for  drawing  lots,  held  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1766,  it  was  voted  that  each  proprietor  should  settle  one 
family  on  his  ''right"  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  March,  1769,  or 
forfeit  two  hundred  acres  of  land. 

A  meeting  was  called  April  12,  1769,  to  ascertain  what  pro- 
prietors had  failed  to  put  settlers  on  their  respective  lots,  and 
who  of  them  had  neglected  to  pay  the  tax  assessed  on  their  prop- 
erty. At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  that  the  time  limited  for 
settling  lots  be  extended  to  the  last  day  of  the  following  June, 
when,  in  case  of  non-compliance  with  the  original  agreement,  two 
hundred  acres  of  each  delinquent's  land  should  be  sold  at  public 


54  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

vendue.  It  was  also  voted  to  sell  land  in  the  same  way  to  pay 
overdue  taxes. 

Another  meeting  of  the  proprietors  was  held  September  13,  for 
the  purpose  of  ascertaining  what  persons  were  still  delinquent  in 
settling  their  lots  or  paying  their  taxes.  This  meeting  was  ad- 
journed to  October  n,  when  portions  of  six  lots  were  sold  for 
taxes,  and  two  hundred  acres  of  each  of  four  lots  declared  forfeited 
to  the  proprietry.  These  forfeited  lands  were  at  the  same  time 
granted  to  "His  Excellency,  John  Wentworth,  Esq.,  on  condition 
that  he  complies  with  the  terms  of  settling  said  rights  within 
twelve  months  from  this  date." 

In  1767  it  became  evident  that  the  time  was  approaching  when 
the  efforts  of  the  proprietors  to  secure  settlers  for  Wolfeborough 
were  to  be  successful.  Individual  proprietors  were  making 
strenuous  efforts  to  induce  families  to  settle  on  their  respective 
lots,  and  March's  schemes  seemed  likely  to  succeed  No  family 
came  to  the  town  to  reside  until  the  following  year,  but  during 
the  summer,  Benjamin  Blake  and  Reuben  Libbey  commenced 
felling  trees  on  lots  they  had  selected  for  future  occupancy.  Just 
as  they  had  nearly  completed  their  labors,  Libbey's  leg  was 
broken  by  a  falling  tree.  Blake  set  the  bone  as  well  as  he  was 
able,  built  a  booth  over  his  companion  to  protect  him  from  the 
summer  sun,  placed  near  him  the  scanty  remnant  of  food  and  a 
vessel  of  water,  and  set  out  for  Gilmanton  to  procure  aid.  He 
was  unavoidably  absent  two  days.  Libbey,  in  the  meantime,  hav- 
ing drunk  the  water  left  him,  suffered  much  from  thirst  and  an- 
noying insects  which  swarmed  from  the  surrounding  forest.  On 
the  evening  of  the  second  day  help  arrived,  and  an  examination 
by  the  medical  attendant  showed  that  Blake's  surgery  needed  no 
emendation. 

The  permanent  settlement  of  Wolfeborough  dates  from  the 
year  1768,  although  a  few  persons,  unaccompanied  by  their  fam- 
ilies, had  previously  spent  limited  portions  of  time  within  its  bor- 
ders. The  region  was  noted  for  its  peltry,  and  was  frequently 


GOVERNOR   JOHN  WENTWORTH 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


55 


visited  by  hunters.  Persons  also  who  had  settled  on  the  shores 
of  Lake  Winnipesaukee  came  to  the  meadows  on  the  borders  of 
Lake  Wentworth  in  the  hay  season,  cut  and  stacked  the  grass, 
which  grew  there  bounteously,  and  in  the  winter  removed  it  to 
their  homes  on  the  ice.  William  Rogers,  when  a  lad,  spent  an  en- 
tire winter  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Wentworth,  caring  for  neat 
stock,  which  was  kept  in  a  hovel.  He  was  visited  only  occasionally 
by  members  of  his  family  with  supplies  of  food. 


CHAPTER  V. 

GOVERNOR  JOHN  WENTWORTH — PARENTAGE  AND  ANCESTRY — A 
STUDENT  AT  HARVARD—FRIENDSHIP  WITH  DR.  AMMI  R. 
CUTTER — BECOMES  AN  INTERESTED  PROPRIETOR  OF  WOLFE- 
BOROUGH — APPOINTED  JOINT  AGENT  FOR  THE  PROVINCE  AT 
THE  BRITISH  COURT — MADE  SURVEYOR  OF  THE  KING'S 
WOODS  IN  NORTH  AMERICA  AND  GOVERNOR  OF  THE  PROV- 
INCE— His  RECEPTION  AT  PORTSMOUTH — FELICITOUS 
COMMENCEMENT  OF  His  ADMINISTRATION — LADY  WENT- 
WORTH— THE  GOVERNOR'S  INTEREST  IN  DARTMOUTH  COL- 
LEGE AND  ROAD-BUILDING — LIVIUS'  CHARGE  OF  MAL- 
FEASANCE —  POLITICAL  ANTAGONISMS  —  REVOLUTIONARY 
FORESHADOWINGS — GOES  TO  PORTSMOUTH — HlS  LAST  OF- 
FICIAL ACT — SUBSEQUENT  CAREER  AND  DEATH. 

GOVERNOR  WENTWORTH  was  from  the  first  a  most 
zealous  promoter  of  the  settlement  of  Wolfeborough,  and 
as  early  as  1/68  commenced  operations  on  his  own  lands.  Be- 
fore proceeding  with  a  particular  account  of  the  settlement  of  the 
town,  therefore,  it  may  be  well  to  give  a  sketch  of  its  most  dis- 
tinguished patron. 

John  Wentworth,  the  last  provincial  governor  of  New  Hamp- 
shire and  proprietor  of  a  large  estate  in  Wolfeborough,  was  born 


56  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

in  Portsmouth  in  1737.  He  was  the  son  of  Mark  Hunking  Went- 
worth, a  prominent  merchant  of  that  town,  the  grandson  of 
Lieutenant-Governor  John  Wentworth,  and  the  nephew  of  Ben- 
ning  Wentworth,  his  immediate  predecessor,  who  acted  as  gov- 
ernor of  the  province  of  New  Hampshire  from  1741  to  1767.  At 
the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  entered  Harvard  College,  making  the 
journey  to  Cambridge  on  horseback,  accompanied  by  a  servant. 
Here  he  met  Ammi  Ruhamah  Cutter,  who  for  two  years  had  been 
a  student  at  the  college.  Between  these  two  young  men  com- 
menced a  close  intimacy  that  lasted  for  a  score  of  years,  and  a 
friendship  that  was  lifelong.  The  parting  of  the  political  ways, 
however,  forbade  companionship  through  the  greater  part  of  their 
protracted  lives.  Society  in  the  sober  classic  town  was  not  wholly 
agreeable  to  the  lively  young  denizen  of  the  busy  seaport,  as  will 
appear  from  the  following  letters  addressed  to  Dr.  Cutter,  who 
had  just  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Portsmouth. 

To  Mr.  Ammi  Ruhamah  Cutter,  in  Portsmouth,  per  Post,  3s. 

Cambridge  February  28th  1754. 
Dear  Sir 

I  with  pleasure  received  your  kind  favour  by  Mr.  Warner,  who  ar- 
rived here  last  Wenesday  night.  I  do  assure  you  Sir  it  is  with  the  sin- 
cerest  pleasure  that  I  see  a  Prospect  of  renewing  my  literary  correspon- 
dence with  my  agreeable  friend  Doctor  Cutter,  Qui  semper  mihi  clarte- 
simus  fuit  &  semper  erit.  The  observation  you  make  of  the  great  Va- 
riety of  pleasing  scenes  we  pass  thro'  is  unjust,  as  it  is  now  entirely 
chang'd  from  what  it  was  then  when  your  presence  bless'd  us,  and  if  we 
had  as  pleasant  living  as  ever  yet  without  you  it  wou'd  be  imperfect  to 
me.  The  College  now  is  filled  up  (allmost)  of  Boys  from  11  to  14  Years 
old  and  them  seem  to  be  quite  void  of  the  Spirit  &  life  which  is  a  general 
concomitant  of  Youth,  so  you  may  Judge  what  kind  of  life  I  now  live, 
who  was  won't  to  live  in  the  gayest  and  most  Jovial  manner,  when  I  was 
at  first  admitted  one  of  this  Society  which  I  then  thought  was  a  Com- 
pound of  Mirth  and  Gaiety  as  it  is  now  of  Gravity.  Should  you  go  into 
a  Company  of  Schollars  now,  you'd  hear  disputes  of  Original  Sin,  ac- 
tual Transgression  &  such  like  instead  of  the  sprightly  turns  of  Wit  & 
Gay  repartees  which  the  former  Companys  used  to  have,  which  makes 
me  cry  out  (&  with  reason)  with  a  certain  Author  Oh  Alma  mater,  how 
hast  thou  degenerated  from  thy  Pristine  Glory!  So  that  you  might  have 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


57 


spar'd  the  Compliments  of  my  Good  nature  as  I  cannot  please  myself 
more  than  in  writing  you.  Pray  don't  let  that  Opinion  of  my  likeing 
Brevity  prevail  as  I  assure  you  the  other  is  my  Choice  as  you  may  see 
by  the  length  of  this  Epistle  which  I  hope  You'll  excuse  as  it  is  a  pleas- 
ure to  Sir  Your  assur'd  Friend 

J.  Wentworth. 
To  Dr.  Cutter. 


To  Dr.  Ammi  R.  Cutter  In  Portsmouth, 
per  favour  of  Mr.  Treadwell. 

Cambridge  April  23rd  1754. 

Dear  Sir. — I  some  time  since  had  a  pleasing  hope  that  our  Correspon- 
dence was  to  be  again  renewed,  which  hope  does  now  but  faintly  glim- 
mer, tho'  I  do  not  yet  despair,  &  hope  you'll  hinder  me  from  Despairing 
by  letting  me  hear  from  you  when  at  leisure  which  'do  now  assure  you 
wou'd  be  a  great  and  sincere  pleasure  to  me.  I  hear  that  we  are  like 
to  have  Treadwell  as  schoolmaster  at  Portsmouth  which  I  shou'd  be  very 
glad  of  as  he  is  a  young  Gentleman  that  I  have  a  great  regard  for  & 
believe  it  will  be  for  his  advantage;  Treadwell  tells  me  there  is  as  great 
Scarcity  of  Pedagogues  with  you  about  Portsmouth  which  'hope  will  be 
supplied  by  some  of  your  &  my  Cantabridgian  acquaintance;  both  for 
your  sake  &  mine  as  we  shall  then  have  a  set  of  Companions  that  we  can 
make  merry  with.  Cambridge  is  barren  of  news  at  Present,  so  I  hasten 
to  subscribe  myself  your  sincere  friend  &  hble  servant 

J.  Wentworth. 
To  Dr.  A.  R.  Cutter. 


To  Doctor  Ammi  Ruhamah  Cutter  In  Portsmouth 
Per  Post  3s. 

Dr.  Cutter  Sir:  I  with  great  pleasure  received  your  favour,  which 
you  intended  by  the  young  Colonel,  who  is  arriv'd  here  safe;  I  am  great- 
ly oblig'd  to  you  for  the  Compliments  you  have  so  liberally  bestowed 
upon  me,  and  wou'd  now  in  my  Turn  return  them,  but  it  is  impossible 
to  make  any  Upon  Doctor  Cutter,  as  let  one  say  what  they  please  they 
can't  say  more  than  the  Truth  of  you,  so  hope  all  things  consider'd  you'll 
excuse  the  deficiency  of  this  letter  in  Compliment.  As  to  Cambridge  it 
is  as  barren  of  news  as  Portsmouth  for  there  is  none  stirring  here  ex- 
cept that  Commencement  is  to  be  new  stile  this  year,  at  which  time 
shall  be  glad  to  see  you  here  to  Celebrate  my  entrance  upon  the  last  year 
of  my  Pilgrimage  among  the  Heathen.  Shall  be  very  glad  to  hear  from 


^8  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

you  by  ev'ry  Opp'ty  when  you  are  at  leisure  your  Compliance  of  which  & 
Acceptance  of  this  will  Greatly  oblige  your  friend  &  most  obedient  h'ble 

servant. 

J.  Wentworth. 
Cambridge  Sunday  noon,  May  27th  1754. 

On  leaving  college  young  Wentworth  entered  the  counting- 
room  of  his  father,  and  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business  for  a 
few  years.  In  October,  1759,  he  became  one  of  the  proprietors  of 
the  township  of  Wolfeborough,  and  in  April,  1762,  was  appointed 
one  of  the  first  committee  on  settling  the  town,  his  associates  being 
Paul  March  and  A.  R.  Cutter.  He  took  a  lively  interest  in  the 
matter  of  settlement  until  the  autumn  of  1763,  when  he  sailed  for 
England,  where  he  remained  four  years. 

Theodore  Atkinson,  secretary  of  the  province  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, thus  writes  to  Thomlinson,  one  of  the  most  active  friends 
of  New  Hampshire : — 

"Now,  Dear  Sir,  Let  me  beg  the  favour  of  your  wonted  free  and 
candid  advice  to  the  bearer,  Mr.  John  Wentworth,  my  brother 
Mark's  eldest  son.  (Atkinson  married  Wentworth's  sister.)  He 
will  want  nothing  more  than  your  common  civility,  and  I'm  sure 
y'll  have  pleasure  in  every  favour  of  that  kind  you  bestow  upon 
him,  as  you  will,  I  am  persuaded,  find  him  a  worthy  agreeable 
fellow." 

In  another  letter  he  says :  "Mr.  Wentworth  is  taking  a  trip  to 
England  by  whom  you  will  receive  this.  I  know  I  need  not 
recommend  him  to  your  house.  You'll  find  him  deserving  every 
favour  granted." 

At  this  period  there  was  an  animated  and  bitter  controversy  in 
the  British  government  in  relation  to  the  American  provinces. 
Wentworth,  though  young,  was  very  active  in  promoting  the 
interests  of  his  native  land.  It  is  said  that  his  influence  in  securing 
the  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act  was  not  inconsiderable.  So  greatly 
did  his  conduct  commend  itself  to  the  New  Hampshire  people, 
that  a  resolution  was  passed  by  the  legislature,  July  12,  1766,  ap- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


59 


pointing  him  and  Barlow  Trecothick  "joynt  and  separate  agents 
for  this  Province  at  the  Court  of  Great  Britain."  Secretary  Atkin- 
son adds,  "Accept  our  grateful  thanks  for  your  spirited  and  kind 
assistance  in  the  affair  of  the  repeal  till  you  have  it  in  a  more 
general  address  which  was  designed  you." 

August  n,  1766,  Mr.  Wentworth  was  appointed  by  his  Majesty, 
George  III.,  governor  of  New  Hampshire,  and  also  "surveyor  of 
the  King's  woods  in  North  America."  Sailing  from  England, 
he  arrived  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  in  March,  1767.  Thence 
he  traveled  through  the  provinces,  registering  his  commission  of 
surveyor  in  each  of  them,  and  arrived  at  Portsmouth,  June  13. 
The  young  governor  was  received  by  the  citizens  of  his  native  town 
with  marked  demonstrations  of  respect  and  joy.  A  deputation 
met  him  without  the  limits  of  the  town,  and  escorted  him  to  the 
more  compact  part,  where  the  military  was  paraded  to  receive  him. 

Cannon  at  Fort  William  and  Mary  and  extemporized  batteries 
boomed ;  church  bells  rang,  and  there  was  a  banquet  of  the 
officials  and  principal  citizens:  Portsmouth  had  such  a  gala- 
day  as  it  had  never  before  witnessed. 

July  2  the  governor  met  the  council  and  assembly  in  session, 
and  in  his  inaugural  remarked :  "I  embrace  the  earliest  oppor- 
tunity of  meeting  the  Assembly,  being  desirous  to  afford  my  con- 
currence to  those  Measures  that  may  be  necessary  for  the  public 
service,  which  will  ever  meet  my  dilligent  attention."  At  the 
close  of  his  speech  he  adds :  "It  remains  for  me  to  observe  that 
unanimity,  Wisdom  and  application  in  all  your  proceedings  will 
be  the  best  means  to  compass  the  great  End  of  your  Consulta- 
tions, therein  preserving  the  Honor  of  the  Crown,  and  advancing 
the  unlimited  Prosperity  of  the  Province,  which  are  at  present  the 
only  objects  of  my  Wishes." 

July  4  the  assembly  replied  to  the  governor's  inaugural  as  fol- 
lows : — 

"May  it  please  your  Excellency — 

The  House  of  Representatives  have  considered  your  Excel- 


60  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

lency's  Speech  at  the  opening  of  this  Session  and  returned  you 
our  sincere  thanks  for  your  care  of  the  Publick  service  discovered 
by  such  an  early  meeting  of  the  Assembly,  after  such  a  long, 
tedious  and  fatiguing  journey  and  voyage  as  you  have  had  to 
your  Government,  and  giving  us  an  opportunity  to  attend  to  the 
Business  immediately  necessary  to  be  transacted.  Your  expres- 
sions and  assurance  of  a  Ready  concurrence  in  that  regard  with 
those  measures  we  shall  pursue  to  the  end,  Deserve  our  thankful 
notice  &  acknowledgement. 

We  acknowledge  the  Propriety  &  Reasonableness  of  our  early 
and  speedy  attention  to  making  an  adequate  &  honorable  sup- 
port for  his  Majesty's  government  in  money  of  a  fixed  value,  and 
the  Lawfull  money  of  this  Province  by  a  Law  of  the  Province  is 
now  well  ascertained  and  fixed.  There  is  likewise  the  strongest 
icason  from  every  just  principle  of  Government  for  establishing 
the  fees  of  all  the  officers  of  the  government,  which  has  been 
several  times  under  the  consideration  of  this  and  former  As- 
semblys,  but  the  former  fluctuating  state  of  the  currency  made 
the  business  difficult.  Silver  and  gold  currency  have  been  estab- 
lished, we  have  made  some  progress  in  preparing  a  suitable  table 
of  fees,  but  have  not  yet  been  able  to  accomplish  it. 

As  the  present  season  of  the  year  with  the  peculiar  Difficulties 
attending  at  this  time  render  our  attendance  to  these  important 
affairs  impracticable  so  far  as  to  effect  the  same,  we  are  neces- 
sarily obliged  to  pray  your  Excellency  to  suspend  the  business 
for  such  a  short  time  as  the  state  of  our  Husbandry  requires." 

The  members  of  the  assembly,  as  intimated  in  the  foregoing 
reply,  desired  to  harvest  the  hay  crop  before  spending  more  time 
in  legislating ;  so  after  a  session  of  three  days  the  governor 
adjourned  the  house  to  August  18.  Before  separating,  however, 
a  committee  consisting  of  the  whole  house  visited  the  governor 
in  the  council-chamber,  and  presented  him  with  a  formal  address 
prepared  by  a  committee  appointed  for  that  purpose.  Here  fol- 
lows a  coov  of  it : — 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  6l 

"  May  it  Please  Your  Excellency — 

The  Representatives  of  his  Majesty's  Loyal  and  Dutifull  sub- 
jects of  the  Province  of  New  Hampshire  concur  in  the  General 
joy  diffused  thro'  the  same  on  the  happy  event  of  your  safe  arrival 
among  them.  Penetrated  with  the  most  lively  sense  of  His 
Majesty's  Paternal  Regard  to  them  in  the  appointment  of  Your 
Excellency  to  the  chief  seat  of  Government  here,  they  make  their 
very  gratefull  and  humble  Acknowledgments. 

Your  well  known  Benevolent  Disposition,  and  other  amiable 
qualities  exhibited  in  private  life,  your  abilities  and  inclination  to 
Discharge  the  Special  Duties  of  your  exalted  Station,  with  the 
connection  usually  arising  from  birth,  education  and  fortune  in 
the  same  place,  gives  the  most  sanguine  Hopes  that  the  Province 
will  always  have  a  strong  interest  in  your  esteem  and  affection. 
Your  knowledge  of  the  British  Constitution  and  form  of  Govern- 
ment, and  the  high  esteem  you  have  always  had  for  it,  the  remark- 
able opportunity  you  have  had  of  hearing  every  Branch  and  part 
of  it  pass  the  most  critical  Examen  that  any  age  has  ever  seen,  as 
it  furnished  a  more  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  extent  and 
limits  of  every  part,  has  we  doubt  not  enhanced  your  esteem  of 
this  Constitution. 

We  would  also  remember  the  eminent  service  you  rendered 
this  Province  as  an  Agent  at  that  critical  conjuncture  of  affairs 
when  it  was  threatened  and  in  danger  of  irreparable  Burthens ; 
and  in  the  Name  and  behalf  of  our  Constituents  return  our  sin- 
cere and  hearty  thanks. 

The  Result  is — The  most  pleasing  hopes  that  the  civil  and 
Religious  liberties  of  the  People  under  your  Government  will 
always  find  Protection  and  safety  thro'  your  whole  administration ; 
and  more  especially  as  they  have  hitherto  preserved  the  character 
of  quiet,  loyal  and  dutyfull  subjects,  firmly  attached  to  his  Maj- 
esty's person  and  government,  and  we  flatter  ourselves  they  will 
never  forfeit  that  character ;  that  they  will  always  be  disposed  to 


g2  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

demonstrate  the  truth  of  their  profession  by  paying  that  Honor 
and  Duty  to  his  Representative  here  which  his  character  and 
station  demand,  and  especially  to  your  Excellency  whose  advance- 
ment is  follow'd  with  the  highest  satisfaction  and  acquiescence ; 
We  therefore  congratulate  you,  Sir,  upon  the  Honor  and  trust 
his  Majesty  has  conferr'd  on  you  and  on  the  other  propitious  at- 
tending circumstances. 

We  add  our  earnest  Desires  that  the  General  Complacency 
appearing  on  this  occasion  may  continue  during  the  whole  time 
of  your  Administration,  and  that  be  long  prosperous  and  happy 
to  yourself  and  all  under  your  care  and  charge." 

The  governor  replied  to  the  address  briefly  and  appropriately. 
Thus  felicitously  did  John  Wentworth,  at  the  age  of  thirty  years, 
enter  upon  his  duties  as  chief  magistrate  of  the  province  of  New 
Hampshire, — a  young  man  beloved  by  his  youthful  associates, 
respected  by  the  maturer  citizens  of  his  native  town,  connected 
with  its  most  influential  and  wealthy  families,  and  developed  by 
unusual  facilities  for  acquiring  theoretical  and  practical  know- 
ledge. What  seer  had  vision  keen  enough  to  predict  that  in  less 
than  ten  years  he  would  be  an  exile  from  the  home  he  so  loved 
and  appreciated,  and  that  through  no  fault  of  his  or  of  those  by 
whose  direct  agency  it  was  brought  about? 

.November   n,    1769,    Governor  Wentworth   was   married  to 

.,»  .   .'«    t»v^|(    -n  •»!"/•    t- 

.  ,v  Mrs-  Frances  Deering  Atkinson,  the  widow  of  his  and  her  cousin, 
Theodore  Atkinson,  Jr.  When  quite  young  John  Wentworth 
and  his  cousin,  Frances  Deering  Wentworth,  became  mutually 
attached ;  but  while  he  was  absent  in  England,  Mr.  Atkinson, 
whose  mother  was  a  sister  of  Mark  Hunking  Wentworth,  wooed 
and  won  her.  After  the  governor's  return  to  New  Hampshire, 
the  families,  who  lived  neighbors,  kept  up  their  friendly  relations. 
Mr.  Atkinson  died  on  the  twenty- eighth  day  of  October,  1769.  By 
order  of  the  governor  minute-guns  were  fired  at  the  fort  and  on 
board  the  ship-of-war,  Beaver,  then  in  the  harbor.  Thirteen 
days  afterward  the  governor  and  Mrs.  Atkinson  were  united  in 


LADY   FRANCES   WENTWORTH 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  63 

marriage.  This  may  seem  a  strange  proceeding,  but  the  union 
may  have  been  in  accordance  with  the  expressed  wish  of  the 
deceased  husband.  In  an  account  of  the  wedding  in  the  "Boston 
News  Letter"  of  November  17,  the  correspondent  says  of  Mrs. 
Wentworth,  "She  is  a  lady  adorned  with  every  accomplishment 
requisite  to  make  the  marriage  state  agreeable."  She  subse- 
quently accompanied  her  husband  to  England,  where  she  was 
distinguished  for  her  beauty  and  conspicuous  at  court,  being 
maid  of  honor  to  the  queen.  She  died  at  Berks,  England,  in  1813. 
Governor  Wentworth  had  one  son,  Charles  Mary,  born  in  Ports- 
mouth in  1774.  He  acquired  much  wealth,  was  never  married, 
and  died  at  Kingsand,  England,  in  1844.  Two  New  Hampshire 
towns  were  named  in  honor  of  the  governor's  wife,  Deering  and 
Francestown. 

Governor  Wentworth  was  indefatigable  in  his  efforts  to  de- 
velop the  resources  and  promote  the  interests  of  the  province. 
Education,  agriculture,  and  internal  commerce,  to  be  facilitated 
by  opening  roads  from  the  remote  parts  of  New  Hampshire  to 
its  only  seaport,  were  matters  that  received  his  absorbing  atten- 
tion. He  evinced  his  interest  in  education  by  chartering  Dart- 
mouth College  in  the  wilderness  for  the  double  purpose  of  en- 
couraging settlements  in  the  region  and  affording  an  opportunity 
for  the  untutored  natives  and  a  rural  population  to  acquire  knowl- 
edge. His  great  outlay  on  his  extensive  agricultural  enterprise 
commenced  in  Wolfeborough  is  proof  of  his  personal  interest  in 
the  cultivation  of  the  soil.  He  was  especially  earnest  in  urging 
the  inhabitants  of  the  province  to  construct  roads  to  facilitate 
travel  and  the  transportation  of  the  products  of  their  farms  to 
market.  Two  of  these,  which  would  have  incidentally  promoted 
Wolfeborough  interests,  will  now  be  noticed. 

The  Pequaket  or  Conway  Road  commenced  at  Brookfield 
line,  and  passed  through  Cotton  Valley  to  Frost's  Corner,  and 
over  Hardy's  Hill  and  the  east  side  of  Trask's  Mountain  to 
Ossipee.  It  was  "spotted"  by  David  Copp.  In  1769  three  miles 


64  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

of  it  were  "cut"  by  Jacob  Sceggel,  Aaron  Frost,  and  Grafton 
Nutter,  and  cleared  by  John  Jammer,  Esq.  The  remainder  of 
it  was  "cut"  by  George  Woodhouse.  in  1771,  bridged  by  Aaron 
Frost  in  1772,  and  subsequently  completed  under  the  direction 
of  Henry  Rust.  It  was  constructed  at  the  expense  of  the  town 
proprietors  of  Wolfeborough.  From  Wolfeborough  the  Pequaket 
Road  was  continued  through  Ossipee,  Effingham,  Eaton,  and 
Conway  to  the  Saco  valley.  It  crossed  the  outlet  of  Lake  Ossipee, 
where  are  still  seen  the  foundations  of  a  bridge. 

June  5,  1772,  an  act  was  passed  by  the  provincial  government, 
authorizing  the  "clearing  and  making  passable  a  road  from  Con- 
way  to  Connecticut  River  on  the  east  side  of  the  White  Hills." 
Had  this  been  constructed,  as  was  then  intended,  it  would  have 
opened  a  thoroughfare  from  the  Coos  region  through  Wolfe- 
borough  to  Portsmouth. 

April  12,  1771,  an  act  was  passed,  authorizing  the  construction 
of  what  was  known  as  the  College  Road.  Here  is  a  copy  of  a 
portion  of  the  act : — 

"Whereas  the  opening  and  making  of  roads  through  the  various 
parts  of  the  province  is  of  great  publick  utility;  and  the  making  of  a 
road  to  Dartmouth  college  will  greatly  promote  the  design  of  that  valu- 
able institution: 

Be  it  therefore  Enacted  by  the  Governor,  Council  and  Assembly,  that 
there  shall  be  a  road  laid  out  three  rods  wide,  and  made  passable,  from 
the  Governor's  house  in  Wolfeborough,  through  part  of  Wolfeborough, 
Tuftonborough,  Moultonborough,  New  Holderness,  Plimouth,  and  from 
thence  on  the  straightest  and  best  course  to  Dartmouth  college,  in  Han- 
over. And  that  Joseph  Senter,  Samuel  Shepard,  and  David  Copp,  be 
and  hereby  are  appointed  a  committee  to  lay  out  and  mark  said  road,  and 
make  a  plan  thereof,  from  the  Governor's  house  aforesaid,  to  Pemigewas- 
set  river,  near  the  mouth  of  Baker's  river,  at  the  charge  of  the  province, 
not  exceeding  twenty-five  dollars  And  that  John  House, — Freeman,  and 
David  Hobbart,  be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  committee  to  lay  out  and 
mark  said  road,  and  make  a  plan  thereof,  from  Pemigewassett  river 
aforesaid  to  the  college,  at  the  expense  of  the  province,  not  exceeding 
twenty-five  dollars.  And  that  the  proprietors  and  owners  of  the  land 
within  the  towns  respectively,  through  which  the  said  road  shall  be  laid 
out,  shall  forthwith  cause  the  same  to  be  made  passable,  to  the  accept- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  65 

ance  of  the  respective  committees  laying  out  the  same,  at  the  charge  of 
such  respective  town,  by  an  equal  rate  on  all  the  land  therein,  except 
land  reserved  or  laid  out  for  publick  uses." 

Here  is  the  report  of  the  committee  for  surveying  the  first 
portion  of  the  College  Road : — 

"In  Pursuance  of  our  Appointment  By  Act  of  the  Generall  Assembly, 
We  have  Survayed  Marked  &  Measured  a  Road,  From  the  Governor's 
House  in  Wolfeborough  To  Plymouth,  Which  Road  is  Marked  for  Three 
Rods  Wide,  Begining  at  the  Governor's  House  in  Wolfeborough  Afore- 
said. 

Running  from  Thence  North  27  Degrees  East  1  Mile  And  y4  to  Mr. 
Rindges — 

From  Thence  W — 45 — N:  %  of  a  Mile  on  Wolfeborough  Road 
From  Thence  W — 41  N — 7  Miles  to  Miles  Road  So  Called 
From  Thence  W — 45  N — %  of  a  Mile  To  Squire  Livius 
From  Thence  No.  40  W.  5  Miles  on  Miles  Road  To  Melvins  River 
From  Thence  N — 32  W — 3  Miles  &  ya  on  Said  rode  to  Colonell  Moul- 
tons 

From  Thence  N — 34  W — 1  Mile  to  Ebenezer  Blakes 
From  Thence  W— 20  S— 6  Miles  &  y±  To  Senters 
From  Thence  W — 40  N — 8  Miles  &  ya  To  Shepards 
From  Thence  N — 20  W — 1  Mile  &  yz  to  Squire  Livermores 
From  Thence  N — 25  W — 2  Miles  &  %  Pemagawasset  River  at  the  En- 
trance of  the  Mill  Brook  So  Called  The  Whole  of  Which  Being  Computed 
To  Be  36  Miles  &  s/4ths  All  Which  we  Have  Carefully  Survayed  Plainly 
Marked  And  Do  Report  Capable  of  Being  Made  a  Good  Road  Of  Which 
Survay  We  Have  Herby  Mad  a  True  Return  All  Which  is  To  Your  Ex- 
cellency &  Honours  Most  Humbly  Submitted — 

Dated  Sept  20th  1771— 

Joseph  Senter  ^ 

David  Copp  I  Com. 

Samuel  Sheperd,  J 


Remarks  explanatory  of  the  survey — The  first  course — from 
the  governor's  house  to  Mr.  Rindge's,  one  and  one-fourth  miles — 
was  quite  direct,  passing  over  a  portion  of  the  meadow,  where 
were  formerly  the  remains  of  a  corduroy  road,  and  east  of  John  A. 
Chamberlain's  buildings,  to  those  now  occupied  by  Harry  Smith, 
where  stood  the  house  of  Isaac  Rindge.  The  second  course — 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  on  Wolfeborough  Road — was  a  small 


66  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

portion  of  the  road  leading  from  the  southeastern  to  the  north- 
eastern part  of  Wolfeborough.  The  third  course,  almost  directly 
west — seven  miles  to  the  Miles  Road — crossed  the  farm  now 
owned  by  James  Stevenson,  whose  grandfather,  Thomas  Steven- 
son, used  to  point  out  the  remains  of  a  bridge  over  which  the 
College  Road  passed.  Thence  it  probably  went  north  of  Center 
Square  to  the  outlet  of  Lily  Pond,  and  from  that  point  to  the  site 
of  the  Hersey  cemetery.  Continuing  in  the  same  westerly 
course,  it  passed  east  of  Mirror  Lake,  and  came  to  the  Miles 
Road  near  the  "Narrows."  There,  turning  to  the  north,  one- 
fourth  of  a  mile  might  have  reached  land  claimed  by  Peter  Livius. 
His  farm  buildings,  however,  were  situated  a  mile  farther  on,  near 
the  artificial  outlet  of  Mirror  Lake,  then  Livius'  Pond.  There 
it  undoubtedly  became  the  Pond  Road,  until  it  reached  the  "Upper 
Bay"  in  Tuftonborough.  From  there  it  continued  towards  Melvin 
River,  passing  over  Bean's  Hill,  and  subsequently  becoming  the 
County  Road.  Leaving  Melvin,  it  continued  in  the  same  direction 
three  and  one-half  miles  to  Moultonborough  Lower  Corner,  the 
home  of  Colonel  Jonothan  Moulton.  One  mile  beyond  it  reached 
Ebenezer  Blake's.  There  its  course  was  changed  to  a  little  south 
of  west,  and  it  continued  six  and  one-fourth  miles  to  the  southern 
part  of  Moultonborough,  where  was  situated  the  home  of  Joseph 
Senter,  from  whom  Center  Harbor  perhaps  took  its  name.  If  so, 
it  should  have  been  called  Senter  Harbor. 

The  College  Road  was  completed  as  a  horseway  to  Hanover, 
and  used  as  such.  Moses  Neal,  for  many  years  Recorder  of 
Deeds  for  Strafford  County,  said  that  when  a  student  at  Dart- 
mouth College,  he,  in  company  with  several  other  persons,  rode 
over  it.  The  following  item  from  the  "New  Hampshire  Gazette" 
of  August  23,  1771,  is  conclusive  evidence  that  it  was  used  for 
travel :  "His  Excellency  Governor  Wentworth  with  a  number  of 
gentlemen  set  out  from  here  (Portsmouth)  for  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege by  way  of  Wolfeborough.  They  went  to  be  present  at  the 
commencement  exercises." 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  67 

In  1772,  when  the  province  of  New  Hampshire  was  divided 
into  counties,  Peter  Livius,  one  of  Governor  Wentworth's 
council,  desired  to  be  appointed  Justice  of  the  Common  Pleas,  but 
failed  to  secure  the  office.  Thereupon  he  went  to  England,  and 
presented  to  the  Lords  of  Trade  charges  of  malfeasance  in  office 
against  the  governor.  The  principal  complaints  were  that  a  large 
number  of  his  family  connections  were  members  of  the  council, 
and  that  he  had  improperly  disposed  of  lands  previously  granted. 
These  charges  were  rigidly  investigated,  but  were  finally  dis- 
missed. 

The  proceedings  were  as  follows :  The  investigations  and  find- 
ings of  the  Lords  of  Trade  went  before  the  Privy  Council  of  the 
king,  which  reported : — 

"Upon  the  whole,  therefore,  the  Lords  of  the  Committee  sub- 
mit to  your  Majesty,  That  there  is  no  foundation  for  any  censure 
upon  the  said  John  Wentworth,  Esq.,  your  Majesty's  Governor 
of  New  Hampshire,  for  any  of  the  charges  contained  in  Mr. 
Livius's  complaint  against  him,  whose  general  conduct,  in  the 
administration  of  affairs  within  your  Majesty's  government  of 
New  Hampshire,  is  represented  to  have  tended  greatly  to  the 
peace  and  prosperity  of  the  said  Province." 

The  declaration  of  the  king  in  relation  to  the  matter  was : 
"His  Majesty,  taking  the  said  report  into  consideration,  is  pleased 
with  the  advice  of  his  Privy  Council,  to  approve  thereof,  and  to 
order,  as  is  hereby  ordered,  That  the  said  complaint  of  the  said 
Peter  Livius  be  dismissed  this  board. 

Signed, 

G.  Chatwood." 

This  transaction  took  place  at  the  Court  of  St.  James,  the 
eighth  day  of  October,  1773.  The  affair  was  the  occasion  of  the 
following  address  to  the  governor : — 

"To  His  Excellency  John  Wentworth  Esqr.  Capt.  General  and  Govern- 
or in  Chief  in  and  over  the  Province  of  New  Hampshire. — 


68  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Londonderry  beg  leave  to  approach 
your  excellency,  and  express  their  sentiments  of  gratitude  and  affection 
to  your  excellency's  person  and  administration. — We  esteem  it  a  pe- 
culiar mark  of  the  favor  of  his  gracious  Majesty  that  he  has  appointed 
to  the  supreme  command  here  a  gentleman  whose  birth  and  education 
have  been  in  the  province  over  which  he  presides.  From  the  circum- 
stances and  your  excellency's  known  character,  we  early  conceived  the 
most  sanguine  hopes  from  your  administration.  Nor  have  we  been  dis- 
appointed. The  unabated  attention  you  have  given  to  the  interests  of 
the  province  has  not  only  been  felt  by  the  people  of  your  charge,  but  has 
been  observed  (we  had  almost  said  envied)  by  our  neighbors  who  are 
without  the  limits  of  your  jurisdiction. — The  cultivation  of  land  within 
the  government,  and  the  extension  of  settlements  even  to  regions  that 
were  scarce  known  when  your  excellency  came  to  the  chair,  must  be  at- 
tributed in  a  great  measure  to  your  care  and  the  benignity  of  your  gov- 
ernment, But  it  has  not  been  in  this  view  alone  that  you  have  been  the 
patron  of  this  people.  To  extend  settlements  or  to  cultivate  lands  while 
the  people  that  settle  &  cultivate  are  without  the  means  of  knowledge, 
might  be  rather  injurious  than  beneficial.  But  these  have  not  escaped 
your  excellency's  attention.  The  institution  of  a  college  in  the  wilder- 
ness, and  the  liberal  encouragement  it  has  received  from  your  hand  is 
abundant  evidence  of  this  attention. 

We  cannot  help  mentioning  as  a  peculiar  happiness  of  the  people  un- 
der your  excellency's  charge,  that  your  ears  have  always  been  open  to 
their  voice.  The  easy  access  they  have  gained  and  the  polite  reception 
they  have  met  with  from  you,  has  afforded  them  the  means  of  communi- 
cating and  your  excellency  of  receiving  all  necessary  information  of  their 
wishes  and  their  wants. 

We  have  been  excited  to  make  this  address  to  your  excellency  as  a 
testimonial  of  our  sense  of  your  benign  administration,  and  as  an  evi- 
dence of  our  opinion  of  any  suggestions  that  may  have  been  made  to  the 
predjudice  of  your  excellency  in  these  respects,  and  to  assure  you  of  our 
loyality  to  the  king,  and  of  our  affection  to  your  person." 

This  address  was  signed  by  the  town  clerk  of  Londonderry, 
and  was  probably  a  fair  expression  of  the  attitude  of  the  people 
of  New  Hampshire  towards  Governor  Wentworth  at  the  time 
of  its  writing,  1773.  It  is  evident  that  the  Livius  episode  did  not 
disparage  him  either  with  his  sovereign  or  subjects. 

In  the  earlier  stages  of  the  controversy  between  the  home 
government  and  the  provinces,  Governor  Wentworth  counseled 
moderation  and  loyalty  to  the  King  of  England,  of  whom  per- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


69 


sonally  there  was  little  complaint,  and  by  his  cautious  words  and 
guarded  strategy  endeavored  to  prevent  the  occurrence  of  events 
that  might  be  hazardous  to  the  quiet  of  the  community.  Loyalty 
to  his  government  would,  of  course,  require  of  him  the  enforce- 
ments of  its  enactments,  while  aggressive  laws  would  justify 
resistance  on  the  part  of  the  people ;  hence  although  there  might 
exist  between  the  governor  and  citizens  personal  friendships, 
there  would  also  be  political  antagonisms.  The  inhabitants  of 
New  Hampshire  were  as  determined  in  their  opposition  to  the 
aggressions  of  the  British  government  as  were  those  of  any  other 
province,  but  the  kindly  feeling  generally  existing  between  the 
governor  and  people  had  a  tendency  to  prevent  violent  out- 
breaks. The  frequent  occurrence  of  exasperating  events,  however, 
increased  estrangement,  and  a  rupture  was  unavoidable. 

The  first  overt  act  which  led  to  the  departure  of  Governor 
Wentworth  from  New  Hampshire  occurred  early  in  June,  1775. 
Colonel  John  Fenton,  who  had  been  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  pro- 
vincial assembly  by  the  citizens  of  Plymouth,  but  who  had  not 
been  allowed  to  take  that  seat  on  account  of  an  alleged  infor- 
mality in  the  election,  was  charged  with  hostility  to  the  American 
cause.  So  great  was  the  excitement  among  the  people,  that  he 
feared  assault,  and  fled  to  the  governor's  house  for  protection. 
Here  is  an  account  of  the  affair  as  given  by  the  governor  himself 
in  a  letter  to  General  Gage,  of  Massachusetts,  dated  June  15, 

1775  :— 

"The  spirit  of  outrage  runs  so  high  that  on  Tuesday  last  my  house 
was  beset  by  great  bodies  of  armed  men  who  proceeded  to  such  length  of 
violence  as  to  bring  a  cannon  directly  before  my  house,  and  point  it  at 
my  door,  threatening  fire  and  distruction,  unless  Mr.  Ferston  (a  member 
of  the  Assembly  then  sitting)  who  happened  to  call  upon  me,  and  against 
whom  they  had  taken  up  such  resentment  as  occasioned  him  some  days 
to  retire  on  board  a  man-of-war  in  the  Harbour  out  of  their  way,  should 
instantly  deliver  himself  up  to  them;  and  notwithstanding  every  effort 
to  procure  effectual  resistance  to  disperse  the  multitude,  Mr.  Fenton  was 
obliged  to  surrender  himself,  and  they  have  carried  him  to  Exeter  about 
fifteen  miles  from  Portsmouth,  where  he  is,  as  I  am  informed,  kept  in 
confinement. 


7Q  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

Seeing  every  idea  of  the  respect  due  to  his  Majesty's  Commission  so 
far  lost  in  the  frantic  rage  and  fury  of  the  people  as  to  find  them  to 
proceed  to  such  daring  violence  against  the  person  of  his  Representative, 
I  found  myself  under  the  necessity  of  immediately  withdrawing  to  Fort 
William  and  Mary,  Both  to  prevent  as  much  as  may  be  a  Repetition  of  the 
like  insults  and  to  provide  for  my  own  security. 

I  think  it  exceedingly  for  the  King's  service  to  remain  as  long  as 
possible  at  the  Fort,  where  I  now  am  with  my  Family  in  a  small  incom- 
modious house  without  any  other  prospect  of  safety,  if  the  prevailing 
madness  of  the  people  should  follow  me  hither,  than  the  hope  of  retreat- 
ing on  board  his  Majesty's  ship  Scarborough;  if  it  should  be  in  my  pow- 
er. This  fort,  although  containing  upwards  of  sixty  pieces  Cannon,  is 
without  men  or  ammunition." 


The  governor  writes  again  under  date  of  June  19: — 

"Besides the inconvenienceof  being  crowded  into  this  miserable  house, 
confined  for  room  and  neither  wind  or  water  tight,  I  am  inevitably  ob- 
liged to  incur  some  extra  expense  for  my  safety  and  existence  even  here. 
Being  of  necessity  compelled  to  make  some  small  repairs  to  make  it  hab- 
itable, and  to  employ  six  men  as  watches  to  prevent  my  being  surprised, 
and  made  prisoner.  These,  with  my  three  servants,  and  Mr.  Benning 
Wentworth,  and  Captain  Cochran  are  divided  into  three  guards  of  four 
hours  each;  by  which  means  I  have  some  security  of  getting  on  board  the 
Scarborough.  The  six  men  are  at  the  expence  of  Twelve  dollars  per 
month  each,  including  their  dieting,  allowance  of  Rum,  &c.;  under  which 
expence  no  trusty  man  can  possibly  be  had  for  so  unpopular  a  service  in 
this  time  of  general  opposition  to  Government." 


Governor  Wentworth  still  continued  to  hold  official  relation 
with  the  province  through  its  secretary,  Hon.  Theodore  Atkin- 
son, and  there  was  considerable  correspondence  between  them  in 
relation  to  various  matters.  Here  follows  a  copy  of  a  letter  from 
Wentworth  to  Atkinson  : — 

Fort  William  &  Mary, 

17th  August  1775. 
Sir— 

I  desire  that  you  will  summon  the  Council  to  meet  here  this  after- 
noon at  4  o'clock,  if  possible,  if  not  at  nine  o'clock  to  morrow  morning 
without  fail,  having  occasion  to  lay  some  matters  concerning  his  Majes- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUQH.  71 

ty's  service  before  them  for  their  consideration  and  advice.     Please  to 
send  me  an  answer  as  soon  as  may  be. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient 
Humble  Servant 

J'  Wentworth. 
The  Honorable 
Theodore  Atkinson,  Esq. 

It  is  doubtful  if  the  council  had  a  meeting,  but  here  is  a  copy 
of  Atkinson's  reply : — 

Portsmouth,  August  17,  1775  half  after  4  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Sir — I  this  Inst.  received  your  Excellency's  Command,  of  this  Day, 
but  too  late  to  Summon  the  Council  to  attend  your  Excellency  at  Fort 
Wm.  and  Mary  but  shall  endeavor  to  do  it  so  as  to  attend  on  your  Ex- 
cellency on  the  morrow  as  you  order. 

I  am  your  Excellency's  most  obedient 
Humble  Servant. 

A.  '    • 

Another  letter  from  Wentworth  to  Atkinson : — 

Fort  William  &  Mary,  August  23,  1775. 
Sir— 

I  find  it  necessary  to  go  to  sea  for  a  few  days,  and  I  must  desire  that 
in  the  mean  time  you  will  use  your  best  endeavors  to  preserve  peace  and 
quietness  as  much  as  possible.  I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble 
servant. 

J'  Wentworth. 
Honorable  Theodore  Atkinson,  Esq. 

The  reply : — 

Portsmouth,  August  29,  1775. 

Sir — I  received  your  Excellency's  favour  of  the  23rd,  and  shall  use 
every  method  to  preserve  the  peace  of  town  and  land.  I  hope  it  will  not 
be  long  ere  your  return. 

I  have  been  importuned  to  write  a  few  lines  to  the  Commander  of  his 
Majesty's  guard  ship  at  Nantasket,  in  favor  of  Mr.  Hale  appearing  for 
the  freighter  of  the  ship  Elizabeth.     A  copy  you  have  enclosed. 
Your  Excellency's  most  obliged  and  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Theodore  Atkinson. 


72  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Here  is  a  copy  of  the  letter  from  Governor  Wentworth,  ad- 
dressed to  Secretary  Atkinson,  accompanying  the  proclamation 
by  which  he  prorogued  the  general  assembly  of  New  Hamp- 
shire : — 

Gosport,  September  21,  1775. 
Sir- 
Being  just  arrived  at  the  Shoals,  and  pressed  for  time,  I  can  only  de- 
sire that  the  Enclosed  Proclamation  for  Prorogueing  the  General  Court 
to  the  24th  of  April  next,  may  be  forthwith  published  and  made  effectual 
to  its  intent.     Mr.  King  will  transmit  me  the  copy  of  Captain  Gamble's 
Patent  properly  countersigned. 

I  am,  in  haste,  dear  Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant. 

J'  Wentworth. 
Honorable  Theodore  Atkinson,  Esq. 

The  following  is  the  proclamation  : — 

Province  of  New  Hampshire — By  the  Governor. 
A  Proclamation. 

Whereas,  the  General  Assembly  is  now  under  adjournment  to  Thurs- 
day, the  28th  Instant,  and  it  appearing  to  me  no  way  conducive  to  his 
Majesty's  service  or  the  welfare  of  the  Province,  that  the  Assembly 
should  meet  on  that  day,  but  that  it  is  expedient  to  prorogue  them  to  a 
farther  time,  I  therefore  thought  fit  to  issue  this  Proclamation,  prorogue- 
ing  the  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly  to  be  held  at  Portsmouth  on 
the  28th  of  September  instant,  to  the  24th  of  April  next,  at  ten  o'clock  in 
the  forenoon;  and  the  General  Assembly  is  hereby  prorogued  according- 
ly, to  that  time,  then  to  meet  at  the  Court  House  at  Portsmouth  afore- 
said; and  hereof  all  persons  concerned  are  to  take  notice  and  Govern 
themselves  accordingly. 

Given  at  Gosport,  the  21st  day  of  September,  in  the  fifteenth  year  of 
the  reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord,  George  the  Third,  by  the  Grace  of  God 
of  Great  Britain,  France  and  Ireland,  King,  Defender  of  the  Faith,  &c. 
and  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  Christ,  1775. 

By  his  Excellency's  Command,  J'  Wentworth. 

Theodore  Atkinson,  Secretary. 

The  issuing  of  this  proclamation  was  the  last  official  act  of 
Governor  Wentworth's  administration.  Never  again  did  he  set 
foot  within  the  province  of  New  Hampshire.  It  appears,  however, 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  73 

from  letters  which  he  wrote  that  he  continued  to  remain  in  this 
country  two  years  or  more  after  hostilities  commenced,  expecting 
the  subjugation  of  the  colonies  and  consequently  a  return  to  his 
former  government.  From  Nantasket  Road,  under  date  of  March 
18,  1776,  he  writes  to  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  "On  the  withdrawing 
of  the  troops  from  Boston  I  have  taken  a  vessel  for  my  removal  to 
whatever  place  the  Fleet  and  Army  shall  go  to,  and  purpose  to 
remain  under  its  protection."  He  next  writes  from  Halifax,  April 
10,  1776;  then  from  Long  Island,  November  5,  1776;  from  New 
York,  January  6,  1777;  from  Flat  Bush  (Long  Island),  January 
17.  1777,  he  writes  to  his  sister;  again,  February  3,  1777,  from 
the  same  place  he  writes  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  (Eng- 
land) thanking  him  for  a  grant  of  five  hundred  pounds  a  year; 
and  in  a  letter  dated  London,  May  15,  1778,  he  says  he  sailed  for 
England,  February  7,  1778,  and  resides  in  London. 

The  departure  of  Governor  Wentworth  from  New  Hampshire 
was  in  striking  contrast  to  his  triumphal  entrance  as  chief  magis- 
trate of  that  province.  He  was  compelled  to  leave  the  land  of  his 
nativity,  the  home  of  his  dearest  and  most  constant  friends,  the 
scenes  of  his  brief  official  career,  the  estate  where  he  hoped  to 
illustrate  the  profits  of  agriculture  and  the  pleasures  of  rural  life, 
and  the  province  which  he  so  much  loved,  just  beginning  to  give 
evidences  of  an  approaching  vigorous  prosperity, — to  become 
literally  a  wanderer.  And  this  had  occurred  through  no  fault  of 
his  or  the  people  whom  he  had  governed.  Such  are  at  times  the 
inexorable  mutations  of  human  life.  The  departure  from  New 
Hampshire  is  thus  announced  to  the  provincial  congress,  sitting 
at  Exeter : — 


Portsmouth,  Aug.  25,  1775. 
Sir: 

We  beg  leave  to  inform  the  Honorable  Provincial  Congress  that  yes- 
terday his  Majesty's  ships,  Scarborough  and  Canso,  sailed  from  this  Har- 
bour, 'tis  said,  for  Boston,  with  Governor  Wentworth  and  his  family  on 
board. 


74  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

I  am,  by  order  of  the  committee  of  safety,  Sir,  your  most  Humble 
Servant, 

H.  Wentworth,  chairman. 

To  the  Honorable,  the  President  of  the  Provincial  Congress. 

In  1792  Governor  Wentworth  was  appointed  lieutenant-gov- 
ernor of  Nova  Scotia.  He  resided  in  Halifax,  where  he  died 
April  8,  1820,  aged  eighty-three  years. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

SKETCH  OF  DR.  AMMI  RUHAMAII  CUTTER — A  NOTABLE  FIGURE 
IN  THE  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN — OTHER  PROPRIE- 
TORS— JUDGE  DAVID  SEVVALL. 

NO  person  not  a  resident  of  the  town  of  Wolfeborough,  except 
Governor  Wentworth,  sustained  so  intimate  relations  with  it 
as  did  Dr.  Ammi  Ruhamah  Cutter,  and  therefore  it  is  fitting  that  a 
somewhat  extended  notice  of  him  should  be  given. 

Dr.  Cutter  was  the  eldest  child  of  the  Rev.  Ammi  Ruhamah 
Cutter.  He  was  born  at  North  Yarmouth,  Mass,  (now  Maine), 
March  15,  1735.  At  the  age  of  twelve  years,  accompanied  by  a 
servant,  he  rode  on  horseback,  mostly  through  a  wilderness,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  to  Cambridge.  After  a  year's  preparatory 
discipline,  he  entered  Harvard  College,  and  graduated  with  honor 
in  1752,  being  seventeen  years  old,  and  began  the  study  of  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  Clement  Jackson  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  He  was 
induced  to  select  this  town  to  pursue  his  medical  studies  on  ac- 
count of  pleasant  companionships  formed  at  Harvard  with  young 
men  from  that  place.  Among  his  most  intimate  friends  was  John 
Wentworth,  afterwards  Governor  of  the  Province  of  New  Hamp- 
shire. He  was  soon  after  admitted  to  practice,  and  was  appointed 
surgeon  of  a  body  of  rangers  which  formed  a  part  of  the  army  on 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


75 


the  frontiers  in  the  war  with  the  Indians  in  1765.  He  remained 
with  the  army  until  the  spring  of  1768,  when  he  was  attacked  with 
small  pox.  On  his  recovery  from  this,  he  returned  to  Portsmouth. 
In  1758  he  married,  and  entered  on  the  practice  of  medicine  in 
Portsmouth,  where  he  was  eminently  successful.  He  was  urged 
to  enter  the  army  again,  but  declined. 

The  friendship  between  Dr.  Cutter  and  Governor  Wentworth 
commenced  in  youth  and  ripened  with  the  increase  of  years,  al- 
though on  the  great  questions  soon  agitating  the  country  they 
differed.  The  Governor  offered  him  a  commission  as  counsellor, 
which  he  declined.  Here  is  a  copy  of  his  reply : — 

"May  it  please  your  Excellency, — the  unexpected  honor  you  have  done 
me  in  recommending  me  to  a  seat  in  his  Majesty's  Council  for  this  Prov- 
ince, and  my  Appointment  in  Consequence,  demand  my  grateful  Ac- 
knowledgements, but  at  the  same  time  I  beg  leave  to  inform  your  Excel- 
lency, that  the  necessary  attention  to  my  Profession  as  a  Physician,  and 
the  present  unhappy  Controversy  between  the  Parent  State  and  the  Colo- 
nies, are  the  Reasons  that  oblige  me  to  excuse  myself  from  accepting  the 
Honorary  Appointment  intended  me. 

I  am,  with  the  greatest  Respect, 
Your  Excellency's  Most  Obedient  Servant." 

In  joining  the  Whigs,  therefore,  against  the  Governor,  which 
Dr.  Cutter  did  early  and  decidedly,  he  had  to  make  a  sacrifice 
of  private  feelings  on  the  altar  of  patriotism  which  fell  not  to  the 
lot  of  all.  Their  friendly  intercourse  was  not  interrupted,  how- 
ever, by  difference  of  political  opinions,  for  after  the  Governor 
had  been  compelled  to  take  refuge  on  board  the  ship-of-war  near 
the  fort,  he  sent  a  pressing  request  to  Dr.  Cutter  to  give  him  an- 
other meeting.  It  was  their  last  interview,  as  the  Governor  soon 
after  left  the  harbor  never  again  to  return,  and  Dr.  Cutter  was 
probably  the  last  New  Hampshire  gentleman  whom  he  had  an 
opportunity  of  seeing  within  the  limits  of  the  republic.  Forty 
years  afterward,  when  a  gentleman  from  Portsmouth  happened  to 
see  Sir  John  at  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  when  he  was  Governor  of 


76  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

that  province,  the  first  question  he  asked,  after  the  usual  saluta- 
tion, was  as  to  the  welfare  of  his  early  friend. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1777  Congress  resolved  to  re- 
organize the  medical  department,  and  Dr.  Cutter  was  called  upon 
to  give  his  time  and  his  services  to  his  country  in  her  hour  of 
need.  He  had  then  a  family  of  ten  small  children  and  an  exten- 
sive and  lucrative  range  of  practice,  but  in  those  days  no  man 
felt  at  liberty  to  choose  between  the  service  of  his  country  and 
his  own  convenience.  The  post  offered  to  him  was  that  of 
Physician  General  of  the  eastern  department,  and  his  station  was 
'  to  be  at  Fishkill,  on  the  North  River.  The  following  extract  of 
a  letter  from  General  Whipple,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence,  will  show  the  nature  of  this  appointment, 
and  serve  to  exhibit  the  high  estimation  in  which  Dr.  Cutter  was 
held.  It  is  dated  at  Philadelphia,  April  15,  1777. 

"The  army  now  forming  will,  I  hope,  under  Heaven,  free  America 
from  the  calamities  of  a  destructive  war.  The  scenes  of  horror  and  dis- 
tress, occasioned  by  some  mismanagement  in  the  medical  department  last 
year,  were  real  shocking  to  humanity.  Congress  being  sensible  of  this, 
and  determined  to  remedy  the  evil,  if  possible,  have  formed  a  plan  on 
the  most  liberal  principles  with  a  design,  if  possible,  to  draw  into  the 
service  of  their  country  gentlemen  of  the  first  eminence  from  different 
parts  of  the  continent,  many  of  whom  have  already  engaged.  Your  hu- 
manity and  firm  attachment  to  the  most  glorious  cause  that  ever  man- 
kind was  engaged  in,  will,  I  flatter  myself,  induce  you  to  forego  the 
pleasure  of  domestic  happiness  for  a  time,  as  you  will  thereby  render  a 
most  essential  service  to  your  country.  I  hope,  therefore,  soon  to  have 
the  pleasure  of  hearing  your  acceptance  of  the  trust,  and  of  your  arrival 
at  tfle  hospital,  which  for  the  department  in  which  you  are  placed  will 
be  at  some  convenient  place  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Hudson  River." 

Dr.  Cutter  remained  at  Fishkill  most  of  the  year  and  until  the 
beginning  of  the  next,  when  the  circumstances  of  his  family  com- 
pelled him  to  resign  his  office.  He  gladly  returned  to  his  family 
and  the  business  of  his  profession. 

Dr.  Cutter  had  no  taste  or  time  for  political  life,  and  held  no 
civil  office  except  a  seat  in  the  convention  that  framed  the  Con- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  77 

stitution  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire.  Before  and  after  the 
Revolution  he  allied  himself  with  those  political  organizations  that 
entertained  the  most  liberal  views.  Foregoing  pages  have  given 
something  of  his  history  as  connected  with  the  town  of  Wolfe- 
borough.  He  died  suddenly  on  the  eighth  of  December,  A.  D. 
1820,  aged  eighty-five  years.  His  old  and  constant  friend,  Gov- 
ernor Wentworth,  died  the  same  year.  A  son,  Nathaniel,  spent 
the  latter  part  of  his  life  in  Wolfeborough.  His  remains  were  in- 
terred in  the  Wolfeborough  cemetery. 

It  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  give  in  this  connection  brief 
sketches  of  the  proprietors.  Few  of  these  men  became  settlers,  it 
is  true,  but  it  is  largely  due  to  their  enterprise  that  the  town  was 
settled  at  all,  and  there  is  little  evidence  that  they  profited  greatly 
by  their  association  with  the  new  town. 

Thomas  Packer,  a  purchaser  of  Mason's  Patent,  was  the  sheriff 
of  the  Province  of  New  Hampshire  who  executed  Ruth  Blay  in 
December,  1768.  He  is  represented  as  an  upright  man,  faithful 
but  rigidly  severe  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties. 

Theodore  Atkinson  was  the  largest  owner  of  the  Masonian 
claim,  having  purchased  one-fifth.  He  was  educated  at  Harvard 
College,  graduating  in  1718.  Soon  after  he  was  made  a  lieutenant 
and  in  1720  clerk  of  the  court  of  common  pleas.  For  many  years 
he  commanded  the  first  regiment  of  militia  in  the  province.  He 
held  the  offices  of  collector  of  customs,  naval  officer,  and  sheriff,  in 
1734  was  admitted  to  a  seat  in  the  Council,  in  1741  was  appointed 
secretary  of  the  province,  in  1754  was  a  delegate  to  the  Congress 
that  met  at  Albany,  and  was  afterwards  a  justice  of  the  superior 
court.  He  died  in  1779. 

Mark  H.  Wentworth,  father  of  Governor  John  Wentworth,  was 
a  merchant,  and  furnished  large  quantities  of  masts  and  spars  for 
the  British  navy.  His  various  business  operations  brought  him  a 
large  fortune.  He  was  one  of  the  original  purchasers  of  Mason's 
Patent,  of  which  he  owned  two-fifteenths.  A  large  claimant 
against  the  confiscated  estate  of  his  son,  he  generously  withdrew 


78  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

his  claim  that  other  creditors  might  be  paid  in  full.     He  was  for 
many  years  a  member  of  the  Provincial  Council.     He  died  in 

1785- 

George  Jaffrey  was  treasurer  of  the  provisional  Council  for  sev- 
eral years.  He  was  for  a  long  time  clerk  of  the  Masonian  Pro- 
prietors, of  whom  he  was  one. 

John  Parker,  second  son  of  William  Parker,  Esq.,  was  born 
in  1732.  He  was  made  sheriff  of  the  province  in  1771,  and  after 
the  division  into  counties,  was  appointed  sheriff  of  Rockingham 
County.  When  the  federal  government  went  into  operation,  he 
was  appointed  marshal  of  the  district  of  New  Hampshire.  These 
offices  he  held  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1791.  His  de- 
scendants have  played  a  prominent  part  in  the  history  of  this 
town. 

Joshua  Brackett  was  born  in  Greenland  in  1733,  and  graduated 
at  Harvard  in  1752.  He  studied  theology,  and  was  for  a  time  a 
preacher,  but  afterward  took  up  the  practice  of  medicine,  in  which 
he  won  great  honor.  In  1783  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society 
elected  him  an  honorary  member,  in  1791  "he  was  complimented 
by  his  alma  mater  with  a  medical  doctorate."  The  same  year  he 
was  made  first  vice-president  of  the  New  Hampshire  Medical  So- 
ciety, and  in  1793  succeeded  Governor  Bartlett  as  president.  He 
laid  the  foundation  of  the  society's  medical  library  by  a  gift  of  one 
hundred  and  forty-three  valuable  books,  and  bestowed  certain 
property  valued  at  fifteen  hundred  dollars  upon  the  University  of 
Cambridge  for  a  professorship  in  natural  history  and  botany.  He 
was  appointed  judge  of  the  maritime  court  of  the  state  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  Revolution.  He  gave  his  nephew,  John  Brackett, 
one  hundred  acres  of  land  out  of  his  proprietor's  lot,  No.  n.  His 
death  occurred  in  1802. 

Daniel  Pierce  was  characterized  as  being  "affable,  judicious, 
and  sensible"  and  a  friend  to  the  poor.  He  usually  acted  as 
moderator  at  the  proprietors'  meetings.  He  held  the  offices  of 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


79 


recorder  of  deeds  and  justice  of  the  peace,  and  in  1766  was  ap- 
pointed one  of  His  Majesty's  Council.  He  died  in  1773. 

David  Sewall,  after  practicing  law  for  a  time  in  Portsmouth, 
moved  to  York  County,  Maine.  He  was  afterwards  judge  of  the 
United  States  Circuit  Court.  He  frequently  visited  Wolfe- 
borough,  being  for  many  years  joint  owner  with  Dr.  Cutter  of  the 
mills  on  Smith  River.  Sewall's  Point,  to  which  now  leads  Sewall 
Street,  was  named  for  the  Judge.  At  his  death  he  bequeathed 
to  the  public  the  landing,  now  covered  with  buildings  and  con- 
trolled by  private  individuals.  This  bequest  is  treated  of  else- 
where, at  greater  length. 

William  Parker,  Jr.,  was  probably  a  brother  of  John  Parker  and 
a  son  of  William  Parker,  Esq.,  of  Portsmouth.  He  died  in  1813. 

Jotham,  John,  Daniel,  and  Isaac  Rindge  were  relatives  of  Gov- 
ernor Wentworth.  Jotham  appears  to  have  had  the  care  of  the 
Governor's  estate.  He  was  authorized  to  call  the  first  meeting 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Wolfeborough,  and  was  appointed  the  first 
town  clerk.  Daniel  was  a  member  of  the  Provincial  Council,  be- 
ing appointed  in  1776.  Isaac  was  quite  prominent.  He  aided 
in  establishing  the  north-east  boundary,  and  during  the  Gov- 
ernor's operation  built  a  house  here.  As  he  was  a  loyalist,  the 
Provincial  Congress  directed  him,  November  15,  1775,  to  remove 
himself  to  some  place  at  least  fifteen  miles  from  Portsmouth  and 
there  to  remain  until  he  was  granted  leave  to  go  abroad.  This 
restriction  was  removed  January  3,  1776.  Wolfeborough  was 
doubtless  the  place  of  his  exile,  as  he  was  evidently  here  before  and 
after  the  Governor's  departure. 

Thomas  Wallingford  was  a  native  of  Somersworth.  He  en- 
gaged in  business  and  was  very  successful.  By  becoming  a  pur- 
chaser of  the  Mason  Patent  he  acquired  great  landed  interests  in 
various  parts  of  the  province.  He  commanded  a  regiment  of 
militia  and  was  one  of  the  judges  of  the  superior  court.  He  died  in 
1771. 


So  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Jotham  Odiorne  was  a  member  of  the  Council  and  a  purchaser 
of  Mason's  Patent. 

James  Stoodley  was  a  noted  taverner  in  Portsmouth.  His  hotel 
on  Daniel  Street  was  burned  in  1761,  and  rebuilt.  His  place  was 
for  years  the  usual  resort  for  travelers  from  Boston  to  Maine. 

Jonathan  Warner  married  a  cousin  of  Governor  Wentworth 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Council  previous  to  the  Revolution.  His 
tax  in  1770  was  exceeded  in  amount  by  only  two  persons. 

George  Meserve,  Esq.,  of  Portsmouth,  is  considered  in  a  pre- 
ceding chapter. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  GOVERNOR'S  FARM — INNATE  LOVE  OF  EARTH — INFLUENCE 
OF  ENGLISH  COUNTRY  LIFE  ON  GOVERNOR  WENTWORTH — 
LOCATION  AND  AREA  OF  THE  FARM — THE  MANSION- 
HOUSE  AND  SURROUNDINGS — How  THE  LAND  WAS  PRE- 
PARED— THE  WALL — THE  PARK — PROMOTION  OF  LOCAL 
INTERESTS — THE  PISCATAOUA  CANAL — ROADS  TO  CANADA 
— PURSUITS  OF  FIRST  SETTLERS  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE — 
DR.  DWIGHT'S  CHARACTERIZATION — DEVELOPMENT  OF 
THE  GOVERNOR'S  PLANS — His  INTENTIONS — OCCUPATION 
OF  THE  NEW  HOUSE — NEW  HAMPSHIRE'S  OLDEST  WATER- 
ING PLACE — LEGENDARY  LORE — THE  GOVERNOR'S  SLAVES 
— THE  "HIGH  GUST  OF  WIND'' — DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  MAN- 
SION IN  1770 — THE  GOVERNOR'S  RETAINERS — WAR  CLOUDS 
ARISE — HURRIED  VISIT  TO  THE  FARM — THE  FINAL  SCENES 
OF  THE  DRAMA. 

MEN  love  the  solid  earth ;  other  possessions  seem  evanescent, 
but  a  portion  of  terra  firma  appears  tangible  and  perma- 
nent. Thus  it  is  that  so  many  persons,  on  retiring  from  official  po- 
sitions or  active  business  life,  are  desirous  of  possessing  real  estate. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  gl 

John^Wentworth  spent  a  portion  of  his  early  manhood  in  Eng- 
land. His  family  and  social  relations  in  America  were  such  as 
to  entitle  him  to  a  place  in  the  higher  ranks  of  society  in  the 
mother  country,  many  of  his  friends  being  noblemen  who  pos- 
sessed baronial  estates.  He  was  charmed  with  their  mode  of  liv- 
ing, and  on  returning  to  his  native  land,  where  there  was  ample 
opportunity  to  gratify  a  natural  taste  for  agriculture,  intensified 
by  association  and  observation,  it  is  not  strange  that  he  should 
have  essayed  to  establish  an  extensive  domain. 

When  the  township  of  Wolfeborough  was  divided  into  pro- 
prietary lots,  its  northeast  portion  consisted  of  two  parallel  tiers 
of  five  lots  each,  numbering  from  one  to  ten,  the  tiers  adjoining 
Lake  Wentworth  bearing  the  smaller  numbers.  Several  of  the 
town  proprietors,  as  already  mentioned,  because  of  neglect  to  pay 
their  taxes  and  non-compliance  with  the  terms  of  settling  their 
lots,  forfeited  portions  of  their  lands  to  the  proprietry.  These 
were  sold  at  auction.  Lots  one,  two,  three,  and  four  came  into 
the  possession  of  Governor  Wentworth  either  by  purchase  or  an 
agreement  to  settle  them.  The  tract  embraced  by  these  four  lots  / 
lay  between  Lake  Wentworth  and  the  Cotton  Valley  road,  and 
had  an  average  width  of  a  little  less  than  five  hundred  rods.  In 
length  it  extended  from  Middleton  to  the  Triggs  farm,  eight  hun- 
dred and  sixty  rods.  Its  area  was  two  thousand  three  hundred  , 
and  fifty  acres.  Within  its  limits  is  the  site  of  the  governor's 
buildings,  Mount  Delight,  Martin's  Hill,  and  the  "Meadows." 

At  the  drawing  of  the  lots  the  one  numbered  seven,  the  second 
in  the  more  easterly  tier  and  abutting  on  lot  two,  fell  to  Went- 
worth as  a  town  proprietor.  It  extended  to  Wolfeborough  Ad- 
dition, was  two  hundred  and  fourteen  rods  wide,  and  contained 
six  hundred  and  forty-two  acres.  Lot  eighteen,  six  hundred 
acres,  was  drawn  b\  John  Rindge.  It  extended  on  the  Lake 
\Ventworth  shore  from  lot  four  to  Moose  Point.  Its  northern 
boundary  was  for  a  short  distance  on  the  line  of  the  road  leading 
from  Center  Wolfeborough  to  Wolfeborough  Falls,  then  on  that 


g2  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

of  a  portion  of  the  range-way  from  Center  Square  to  Lake  Win- 
nipesaukee.  On  the  west  it  abutted  on  the  Torrey  lot.  Within 
its  limits  are  situated  the  farms  now  owned  by  John  F.  Chamber- 
lin,  Frank  B.  Kenncy.  Henry  J.  Coleman,  George  Tyler,  and  a 
portion  of  the  land  where  stood  the  Hersey  woods.  This  lot  also 
became  a  part  of  the  Wentworth  Farm.  The  amount  of  land  in 
lots  seven  arid  eighteen  added  to  that  contained  in  the  four  lots 
just  referred  to  equals  three  thousand  five  hundred  and  ninety- 
two  acres,  the  amount  of  land  in  one  body  possessed  by  Governor 
Wentworth  in  the  town  of  Wolfeborough.  It  is  said  that  he  had 
fifteen  hundred  acres  adjoining  this  in  the  second  division  of 
Middleton  (now  Brookfield)  and  New  Durham, and  the  statement 
is  probably  correct,  as  the  following  extract  from  the  doings  of  the 
New  Hampshire  committee  of  safety  would  indicate : — 

"State  of  New  Hampshire — In  Committee  of  Safety. 

Sept.  8,  1780.  To  Capt.  Gilman,  Trustee  of  the  state  of  the  late 
Governor  Wentworth 's  estate : 

Provided  any  person  in  behalf  of  the  heirs  of  Joseph  Simms, 
late  of  Portsmouth,  deceased,  should  bid  off  any  lands  belonging 
to  said  estate  in  Middleton  in  the  County  of  StrafTord  at  vendue, 
you  are  desired  to  take  security,  and  not  demand  the  money." 

This  would  indicate  that  the  governor  had  a  claim  on  such 
lands.  If  so,  he  possessed  in  one  compact  body  upwards  of  five 
thousand  acres  of  land. 

Governor  Wentworth  commenced  operations  on  his  farm  in 
1768.  In  a  letter  written  by  him  April  25,  1768,  to  Colonel 
Thomas  M.  Waldron  of  Dover,  N.  H.,  he  states  that  it  was  not 
alone  his  desire  to  form  an  English  country-seat  here  that  caused 
him  to  obtain  and  develop  the  land  of  which  he  was  then  in  posses- 
sion, but  that  his  chief  object  was  to  rapidly  develop  the  resources 
of  the  province,  and  that  he  looked  for  others  to  follow  his  ex- 
ample in  this  field.  In  the  same  letter  he  writes:  "Mr.  Benjamin 
Hart,  overseer  of  mv  designations  in  the  wilderness,  and  Mr. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  83 

Webb,  who  is  to  reside  there  as  farmer,  are  now  there  on  their 
first  expedition  to  clear  a  few  acres  and  build  a  humble  habita- 
tion for  me." 

In  1768,  1769,  and  1770  a  large  force  of  laborers  was  employed, 
a  great  extent  of  forest  cleared,  fields  sown,  orchards  planted,  a 
large  garden  laid  out,  and  the  mansion  erected,  though  not  fin- 
ished. The  site  of  the  house  was  a  small  plain  about  one  hun- 
dred rods  east  of  Lake  Wentworth. 

The  house  was  one  hundred  feet  long  and  forty  feet  wide,  as 
shown  by  the  cellar  over  which  it  stood,  and  fronted  both  east  and 
west.  It  was  two-storied  with  a  gambrel  roof,  the  upper  story  be- 
ing eighteen  and  the  lower  twelve  feet  high.  Its  windows,  glazed 
with  small  panes  of  glass,  were  six  feet  wide.  A  hall  twelve  feet 
wide  extended  across  it,  entered  at  each  end  "by  massive  doors,  the 
keys  of  which  weighed  one  and  one-half  pounds  each.  Mrs.  Ray- 
nard,  the  last  occupant  of  the  house  before  it  was  burned,  sent  one 
of  them  to  the  governor,  then  an  octogenarian,  who  was  deeply 
moved  upon  its  receipt.  The  principal  room  in  the  upper  story 
was  the  "East  India  chamber,"  the  walls  of  which  were  covered 
with  finely  painted  paper,  representing  life  scenes  in  the  East. 
Here  was  a  white  marble  fireplace ;  on  each  side  were  niches  in 
which  to  place  statues.  On  the  same  floor  were  the  "green  room" 
and  the  "blue  room,"  thus  named  from  the  color  of  their  finish- 
ings. Here  also  was  the  "king  and  queen's  chamber,"  which  had 
a  fireplace  of  gray  marble  and  niches  where  stood  the  statues  of 
the  king  and  queen  of  England.  In  the  lower  story  were  the 
store-room,  kitchen,  dining-room,  drawing-room,  and  library.  In 
the  last  named  room  was  a  black  marble  fireplace  with  a  tile 
hearth.  At  the  southerly  end  of  the  house  was  a  one-storied 
building  called  a  porch,  which  was  probably  used  for  various 
domestic  purposes.  At  a  little  distance  was  a  dairy  with  a  well 
and  fireplace. 

The  principal  barn  was  one  hundred  feet  long.  It  is  still  in 
existence,  one-half  of  it  standing  on  the  farm  of  Hon.  Thomas  L. 


g4  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Whitton  and  the  other  half  on  that  of  his  son,  Charles  A.  Whitton. 
Other  barns,  stables,  and  out-buildings  were  erected. 

A  large  extent  of  land  was  cleared,  the  most  of  it  in  the  ordinary 
way — by  felling,  piling,  and  burning  the  trees.  Where  a  smooth 
surface  was  required  for  pleasure-grounds,  gardens,  orchards,  etc., 
however,  a  more  expensive  and  expeditious  method  was  adopted, 
the  roots  of  the  tree  being  removed  with  the  bodies.  Some  of 
the  grounds  were  enclosed  by  carefully  constructed  stone  walls 
that  remain  standing  at  the  present  time.  A  mall  was  built,  ex- 
tending from  the  shore  of  the  lake  to  the  mansion  and  ground 
beyond,  a  portion  of  which  is  still  in  a  state  of  good  preservation. 
This  was  bordered  with  elms,  some  of  which  still  guard  the  un- 
frequented way.  A  park  was  also  constricted,  and  stocked  with 
deer  and  moose.  It  was  fenced  in  the  following  manner :  a  ditch 
twelve  feet  wide  was  dug,  and  an  embankment  formed  on  the 
outer  side  from  the  earth  thrown  out ;  on  this  were  piled  large 
trees  with  the  branches  interwoven.  Near  the  park  was  the  house 
of  Robert  Calder,  the  Scotch  gardner,  the  hearth-stone  of  which 
is  still  to  be  seen. 

The  northerly  end  of  the  house,  nearly  one-half  of  it,  was  never 
completed.  It  was,  no  doubt,  intended  by  the  governor  for  court- 
rooms. He  had  been  largely  instrumental  in  dividing  New  Hamp- 
shire into  counties,  of  which  Strafford  was  one.  The  subsequent 
action  of  the  provincial  legislature  indicates  his  purpose  in  relation 
to  the  location  of  the  courts.  June  13,  1772,  the  council  voted 
"that  all  the  courts  for  the  county  of  Strafford  be  held  for  the 
term  of  seven  years  at  Dover,  and  afterwards  one-half  of  them 
at  Wolfe  borough."  The  assembly  concurred  with  the  action  of 
the  councif  with  this  proviso,  "that  after  seven  years  held  at 
Dover,  one-half  of  the  courts  be  held  at  some  other  place  as  the 
Governor  and  Assembly  shall  then  direct  and  order."  Wolfe- 
borough,  at  the  time  of  this  legislation,  was  in  an  inchoate  state, 
and  in  no  condition  to  entertain  the  courts ;  nor  was  the  neighbor- 
ing population  sufficiently  large  to  require  them.  In  seven  years 


U  ^   U 


<3 

$ 


« 
I 


S. 


* 


77Y& 


T 


¥ 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  85 

the  governor  expected  it  to  be  a  thickly  inhabited  town,  sur- 
rounded by  a  somewhat  populous  district. 

While  endeavoring'  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  whole 
province,  the  governor  was  especially  desirous  to  secure  for 
Wolfeborough  all  possible  advantages.  This  is  seen  in  his  efforts 
for  the  construction  of  the  Pequaket,  College,  and  Connecticut 
River  Roads,  all  of  which  were  designed  to  reach  Wolfeborough. 
In  the  matter  of  the  Strafford  County  courts  is  seen  the  same 
purpose  to  favor  this  locality.  Had  England  and  the  American 
provinces  remained  united,  and  Governor  Wentworth  continued 
to  be  the  chief  magistrate  of  New  Hampshire,  it  is  probable  that 
at  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century  Wolfeborough  would 
have  been,  next  to  Portsmouth,  the  most  important  town  in  the 
province.  Of  course,  the  improved  modes  of  travel  and  trans- 
portation since  introduced  would  eventually  have  changed  the 
current  of  business,  and  the  same  causes  which  enabled  Boston  to 
absorb  a  large  amount  of  the  trade  of  Portsmouth,  Newburyport, 
and  Salem  would  have  rendered  it  as  today  the  emporium  of  New 
England,  and,  as  a  consequence,  changed  the  condition  of  many 
New  Hampshire  towns,  perhaps  of  Wolfeborough. 

Without  doubt  Governor  Wentworth,  as  did  others,  expected 
that  at  no  distant  period  Lake  Winnipesaukee  and  Piscataqua 
River  would  be  connected  by  a  canal  commencing  at  Wolfe- 
borough,  and  that  water-ways  and  roads  would  be  extended  to 
the  Canadian  regions.  As  early  as  1768  he  advocated  such  meas- 
ures, and  gave  assurance  that  he  would  endeavor  to  secure  the  co- 
operation of  the  members  of  the  provincial  legislature  and  other 
inhabitants. 

In  the  establishment  of  the  provincial  governments,  each 
province  conducted  its  own  internal  affairs  quite  independently  of 
its  neighbors.  There  was  little  concerted  action,  except  in  the 
war  with  the  aborigines,  until  the  revolt  against  British  tyranny. 
Consequently,  New  Hampshire  was  the  exclusive  domain  of  Gov- 
ernor Wentworth  when  he  became  its  chief  magistrate. 


86  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Almost  the  only  pursuit  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  this  province 
was  the  catching  and  curing  of  fish.  The  manufacture  of  lumber 
soon  followed,  however,  as  the  shores  of  the  Piscataqua  and  its 
tributaries  abounded  with  oak  and  pine  timber,  and  numerous 
cascades  furnished  ample  water-power.  These  commodities,  fish 
and  lumber,  were  taken  to  the  West  Indies,  and  exchanged  for 
rum  and  molasses.  The  latter  was  brought  to  Portsmouth  and 
distilled,  and  the  product  of  the  distillation  shipped  to  the  neigh- 
boring seaports  and  sold.  The  traffic  was  very  lucrative,  and  the 
town  merchants  became  wealthy.  The  result  was  that  farming 
was  neglected,  and  provisions  and  other  necessities  of  life  were 
imported.  These  were  oftentimes  scarce  and  sold  at  exorbitant 
prices. 

It  was  the  purpose  of  Governor  Wentworth  to  equalize  the  in- 
dustries of  the  province,  and  advance  to  its  proper  position  the 
most  neglected,  yet  most  important  one,  agriculture.  This  seems 
to  have  been  his  prime  object  in  commencing  his  enterprise  in 
Wolfeborough,  as  intimated  in  his  letter  to  Mr.  Waldron,  already 
quoted.  Firmly  believing  that  farming  would  prove  a  remunera- 
tive business,  he  engaged  in  it  not  only  for  the  purpose  of  stimu- 
lating others  to  follow  him,  but  also  with  an  expectation  that  its 
pursuit  would  accrue  to  his  own  personal  benefit.  Xo  doubt  his 
anticipations  would  have  been  realized,  had  he  been  permitted  to 
continue  the  business  without  interruption,  since  agriculture  was 
the  principal  pursuit  of  the  people  of  New  Hampshire  during  the 
following  half-century.  His  zeal  for  the  general  welfare  of  the 
province  led  Rev.  Dr.  Dwight,  president  of  Yale  College,  to  thus 
write  of  him  :  ''Governor  John  Wentworth  was  the  greatest  bene- 
factor of  his  province.  He  was  a  man  of  sound  understanding, 
refined  tastes,  enlarged  views,  and  a  dignified  spirit.  His  manners 
were  elegant  and  his  disposition  enterprising.  Agriculture  here 
owed  more  to  him  than  any  other  man.  He  originated  building 
new  roads,  and  improved  old  ones.  He  was  very  popular,  had 
an  unimpeachable  character,  and  retired  with  a  high  reputation." 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  87 

It  was  not,  however,  the  sole  object  of  Governor  Wentworth  in 
engaging  in  the  Wolfeborough  enterprise  to  prepare  a  farm  for 
strictly  agricultural  purposes.  His  visit  to  England  had  increased 
a  previously  possessed  desire  to  have  a  large  landed  estate  like 
the  baronies  of  the  British  Isles.  Securing  the  lands  in  Wolfe- 
borough  and  vicinity  afforded  him  an  opportunity  to  gratify  his 
tastes  in  this  particular.  The  locality  was  a  desirable  one  for  his 
purpose.  The  plain,  which  lay  adjacent  to  the  lake-shore,  spread- 
ing out  in  different  directions,  was  a  fitting  place  for  his  residential 
mansion.  There  was  ample  room  for  wide  fields  and  extensive 
gardens  and  orchards,  the  broad  incline  to  the  southeast,  sym- 
metrical to  its  very  brow,  being  well  adapted  to  successful  hus- 
bandry or  beautiful  horticulture.  The  near-by  plateau,  Martin's 
Hill,  illumined  by  the  rays  of  the  morning  and  evening  sun,  sur- 
rounded by  the  dark  shades  of  the  wooded  valleys  below,  pre- 
sented a  pleasing  picture.  Mount  Delight,  overlooking  the  little 
bay  at  its  foot  and  the  broader  blue  of  Lake  Wentworth,  added 
its  charm  to  the  scene,  while  the  more  distant  hills  and  far-away 
mountains,  whose  cloud-capped  tops  hover  the  shores  and  island 
bedecked  waters  of  Winnipesaukee,  furnished  views  of  unsur- 
passed loveliness. 

The  lumber  for  constructing  the  buildings  of  the  farm  was 
probably  manufactured  on  the  premises,  as  there  is  evidence  still 
existing  that  a  saw-mill  once  stood  on  the  Rye  Field  Brook.  If 
not  thus  obtained,  it  must  have  been  brought  from  the  Cutter  & 
Sewall  mill,  a  distance  of  about  five  miles.  It  is  said  that  the 
bricks  of  which  the  great  chimneys  were  built  were  made  at  the 
foot  of  Smith's  River  falls  of  clay  brought  from  Clay  Point  in 
Alton.  They  were  then  taken  to  Mast  Landing,  which  is  on  a 
level  with  Lake  Wentworth,  and  conveyed  in  a  two-masted  boat, 
called  the  Rockingham,  to  the  place  of  destination.  As  the  old 
inhabitants  of  Wolfeborough  estimated  it,  they  cost  a  fabulous 
sum,  and  no  doubt  they  were  quite  expensive.  It  was  not  known 


88  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

then  that  there  were  several  deposits  of  this  earth  within  the  limits 
of  the  town. 

The  fine  material  for  finishing  the  house  and  the  furnishings 
were  taken  from  Portsmouth  to  Wolfeborough  by  the  only 
feasible  route  then  existing  between  the  two  places,  which  was  by 
gondolas  or  other  river-craft  to  Dover,  and  from  thence  by  teams 
to  Merry  Meeting  Bay,  a  road  from  Rochester  to  that  place  hav- 
ing been  opened  by  soldiers,  who  were  acting  as  scouts  to  pro- 
tect the  frontier  settlements  from  the  incursions  of  the  Indians. 
Here  the  freight  was  taken  by  the  governor's  sloop  to  Wolfe- 
borough,  where  it  was  portaged  above  Smith's  River  Falls,  and 
conveyed  by  water  to  the  Wentworth  Farm. 

There  was  another  route  from  Portsmouth  to  the  Wentworth 
House  for  travel  only.  It  was  the  one  usually,  perhaps  always, 
taken.  It  was  as  follows,  the  distance  and  stopping-places  being 
given:  from  Portsmouth  to  Newington  Ferry  (Knight's),  six 
miles:  Dover  (Hanson's),  six;  Rochester  (Stephan  \Vent- 
worth's),  ten;  Rochester  (Roger's,  now  Haves'),  four;  Middle- 
Ion  (Drew's,  no\v  Prcscott'sV  ten;  Middleton  (Guppy's,  since 
Buzzell's),  one;  Wentworth  House,  twelve.  On  the  border  of 
Middieton.  near  Wolfeborongh  line,  dwelt  Nicholas  Austin.  His 
home  was  afterwards  known  as  the  Hodge  place.  Here  was  the 
end  of  the  road,  until  the  Pequaket  was  opened.  From  Ports- 
mouth to  Plummer's  Ridge,  then  within  the  limits  of  Rochester, 
now  a  part  of  Milton,  the  governor's  family  rode  in  carriages,  the 
remaining  distance  to  the  farm  on  horseback.  Esquire  Plummer 
usually  accompanied  the  party  on  the  latter  part  of  the  journey. 

In  17/0  the  governor's  house,  though  not  finished,  was  taken 
possession  of  by  him  and  his  family,  as  shown  by  the  following 
extract  from  the  "Xcw  Hampshire  Gazette" :  "Last  Tuesday,  His 
Excellency,  our  Governor,  set  out  for  his  country  seat  on  Win- 
nipiseogee  pond,  and  we  hear  his  lady  sets  out  next  week  for  the 
same  place  to  reside  during  the  summer  season." 

During  this  and  the  four  succeeding  years  it  is  probable  that 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  89 

Governor  Wentworth  and  his  family  spent  a  large  portion  of  the 
warm  seasons  on  the  Wolfeborough  plantation,  engaged  in  clear- 
ing and  improving  the  land,  erecting  and  finishing  buildings,  en- 
tertaining friends,  and  securing  for  himself  those  enjoyments  that 
a  busy  rural  life  would  bring  to  a  person  of  his  tastes. 

The  opportunities  for  recreation  at  the  governor's  establish- 
ment for  denizens  of  the  town  were  many.  The  stately  moose 
and  wary  deer  roamed  in  the  surrounding  forests,  while  an 
abundance  of  smaller  game  was  found  in  its  covers  near  the  out- 
skirts of  the  cultivated  fields.  Lake  Wentworth  teemed  with 
pickerel  and  other  food  fish,  as  did  the  hillside  streams  with  the 
speckled  trout.  These  were  sources  of  wholesome  and  palatable 
food  for  the  larder 

Jotham  Rindge,  the  governor's  factotum,  let  loose  English 
pheasants  in  the  woods,  but  they  disappeared.  He  also  put  cusk,  a 
salt  water  fish,  into  Lake  Wentworth,  but  they  evidently  passed 
down  Smith's  River  to  the  larger  body  of  water,  Lake  Winni- 
pesaukee,  where  they  have  become  habitats,  and  have  stocked 
neighboring  lakes  and  ponds  with  their  kind.  Within  this  decade 
they  have  also  been  caught  in  goodly  numbers  from  Lake  Went- 
worth ;  these  are  probably  the  progeny  of  such  as  have  been  re- 
cently placed  in  that  water. 

There  were  several  favorite  resorts  about  the  farm  for  out-of- 
door  dinners  and  teas.  One  was  an  island-rock  in  the  southern 
part  of  Lake  Wentworth,  still  called  "Tea  Rock,"  or  "Governor's 
Rock."  It  was  about  forty  feet  long  and  twenty  feet  broad. 
Turtle  Island,  near  the  north  shore  of  the  lake,  was  also  a  feasting- 
place.  This  island  was  connected  with  the  mainland  by  a  narrow 
causeway.  A  large  pine  tree  on  Mount  Delight  was  also  a  chosen 
spot  for  afternoon  entertainments. 

The  Wentworth  Farm  was  essentially  a  watering-place,  prob- 
ably the  first  in  Xew  Hampshire,  perhaps  the  first  in  the  country. 
It  differed  from  those  of  the  present  time  in  this  respect — it  was 
not  established  for  pecuniary  profit,  the  entertainment  of  guests 


00  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

being  entirely  gratuitous.  These  consisted  of  the  higher  class  of 
Portsmouth  citizens  and  the  especial  friends  of  the  governor. 
Among  the  latter  was  his  college  chum,  Dr.  A.  R.  Cutter,  who 
usually  accompanied  him  on  his  visits  to  the  farm  in  the  double 
capacity  of  companion  and  physician. 

The  effect  on  the  visitors  to  the  farm  was  similiar  to  that  which 
ordinarily  takes  place  when  residents  of  densely  populated  com- 
munities visit  sparsely  settled  regions,  and  exchange  the  impure 
atmosphere  of  crowds  for  the  invigorating  oxygen  of  the  forests 
and  fields,  and  the  dull  hues  of  shaded  walls  for  the  bright  foliage 
of  the  dells  and  the  green  of  meadows — the  muscles  became  more 
elastic  and  the  spirits  more  buoyant,  the  staid  conventionalisms 
of  the  town  gave  way  to  the  unrestrained  gaieties  of  the  country. 
There  have  been  numerous  legendary  tales  concerning  occur- 
rences at  the  farm,  some  of  them  being  quite  humorous,  but  as 
they  are  not  fully  authenticated,  they  may  as  well  remain  unre- 
corded, or  be  preserved  only  in  the  memory. 

There  is,  however,  one  event  which  took  place  at  the  Went- 
worth  House  that  should  be  noticed.  It  is  the  marriage  of 
Lemuel  Clifford,  a  farm-hand,  and  Betsy  Fullerton,  daughter  of 
widow  Alary  Fullerton,  a  household  domestic.  The  governor,  at- 
tired in  scarlet,  tied  the  nuptial  knot,  while  her  ladyship,  dressed 
in  blue,  honored  the  occasion  with  her  presence.  The  feast,  which 
was  provided  at  the  expense  of  the  governor,  was  sumptuous,  and 
the  company,  which  consisted  of  town  guests,  neighbors,  and  do- 
mestics, remained  at  the  banquet  until  the  wee  hours  of  the  next 
morning. 

This  affair  caused  the  grateful  husband  to  become  devotedly 
attached  to  the  governor  and  his  interests.  Not  long  afterward, 
however,  he  unconsciously  did  him  a  wrong.  The  newly  married 
couple  had  made  for  themselves  a  home  where  the  late  Nathan 
Shackley's  residence  now  stands.  One  day,  in  the  absence  of  the 
husband,  a  deer  came  near  the  house,  and  was  shot  by  the  wife. 
On  examination,  a  marked  strap  was  found  about  the  neck  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  yi 

animal,  indicating  that  it  had  escaped  from  the  park.  Betsy,  fear- 
ing her  husband's  displeasure,  secreted  the  strap,  and  Lem.  in- 
nocently feasted  on  the  governor's  venison. 

The  governor's  servants  are  said  to  have  been  much  attached 
to  him  and  careful  of  his  interests.  On  one  occasion  he  desired 
to  send  a  live  moose,  recently  captured,  to  the  King  of  England 
as  a  present.  It  was  fastened  with  a  rope  to  a  tree  to  render  it 
more  secure.  In  its  struggles  to  escape,  its  neck  was  broken. 
A  Scotchman  named  McDonald  reported  the  affair  to  the  gov- 
ernor, expressing  regrets  that  his  own  neck  had  not  been  broken 
instead  of  that  of  the  moose. 

In  the  governor's  family  were  two  adult  negro  slaves.  They 
remained  on  the  farm  after  his  departure.  The  husband  was  sub- 
sequently killed  by  a  rolling  log,  and  the  mind  of  the  widowed 
Hagar  becoming  disordered,  she  took  her  son  Remus,  and  wan- 
dered to  New  Durham,  where  she  found  a  home  in  a  kind  famUy 
named  Willey.  There  are  persons  now  living  who  can  remember 
seeing  the  aged  negro,  Remus  Willey. 

The  following  letter,  written  by  Lady  Wentworth,  is  a  graphic 
picture  of  life  at  the  farm : — 

Wentworth  House,  October  4th,  1770. 
My  Dear  Mrs.  Langdon: 

I  hope  tnere  requires  no  profusion  of  words  to  convince  my  dear 
Friend  how  very  happy  her  obliging  letter  made  me,  as  surely  she  must 
be  sensible  of  the  kindest  feelings  of  my  heart  towards  her,  and,  believe 
me,  my  dear  Mrs.  Langdon,  I  was  extremely  uneasy  till  I  heard  you  got 
safe  to  Portsmouth.  Mrs.  Long  told  me  you  had  met  with  some  incon- 
venience at  the  Ferry,  which  really  alarmed  me  exceedingly  for  you. 
However,  I  was  soon  quieted  by  receiving  a  line  from  you  with  mention 
of  your  health.  The  time  you  kindly  spent  with  me  in  this  solitary  wil- 
derness has  riveted  a  lasting  impression  of  pleasure  upon  my  mind;  nor 
do  I  forget  our  tedious  walks  which  the  charms  of  the  meadows  scarcely 
made  up  for.  I  have  taken  but  one  since,  and  then  lost  both  my  shoes 
and  came  home  barefoot. 

Mrs.  Livius  arrived  here  on  Monday  afternoon,  and  appeared  nearly 
as  tired  as  you  was,  but  would  not  own  it. 

She  staid  here  three  nights  for  fair  weather,  and  at  last  went  over  the 


g2  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

pond  in  a  high  gust  of  wind,  which  made  a  great  sea  and  white  caps  as 
large  as  the  Canoe. 

I  was  much  afraid  for  her,  but  she  got  over  quite  safe.  She  told  me 
you  was  unwell  when  she  left  town,  and  I  am  anxious  to  hear  you  are  re- 
covered again.  I  wish  you  had  tarried  at  Wolfeborough  till  you  had 
established  your  health.  Indeed,  you  ought  to  be  mighty  attentive  to 
keep  your  mind  easy  and  calm,  or  you  will  be  often  subject  to  indispo- 
sitions that  will  become  mighty  troublesome  to  you.  I  was  pleased  at 
all  the  intelligence  you  gave  me;  for  although  I  live  in  the  woods,  I  am 
fond  of  knowing  what  passes  in  the  world.  Nor  have  my  ideas  sunk  in 
rural  tranquility  half  enough  to  prefer  a  grove  to  a  Ball-room.  I  wish 
you  were  here  to  take  a  game  of  Billiards  with1  me,  as  I  am  all  alone. 
The  Governor  is  so  busy  in  directions  to  his  workmen  that  I  am  most 
turned  hermit. 

The  great  dancing  room  is  nearly  completed,  with  the  Drawing  Room, 
and  begins  to  make  a  very  pretty  appearance.  I  hope  you  will  be  here 
next  summer  with  all  my  heart,  and  then  our  house  will  be  more  in  order 
than  it  was  when  you  last  favored  me  with  a  visit,  and  less  noise.  For 
in  fact  my  head  is  most  turned  with  a  variety  of  noises  that  is  every- 
where about  me,  and  I  am  hardly  fit  to  bear  it,  as  I  have  been  in  poor 
health  ever  since  you  left  me,  and  am  hardly  able  to  live.  However,  I 
hope  to  be  stout  now  the  winter  comes  on,  as  the  summer  never  agrees 
with  my  constitution,  which  looks  strong,  but  is  quite  slender.  When 
Mrs.  Loring  left  me,  I  gave  her  in  charge  your  side  saddle,  which  she 
promised  to  send  home  to  you.  I  hope  it  was  not  forgot.  If  it  was, 
it  must  have  been  left  at  Staver's  tavern,  and  you  can  send  for  it,  if  you 
have  not  received  it  before  this  time. 

The  cruel  came  safe,  and  I  will  trouble  you  for  the  worsted  you  men- 
tioned, as  it  will  do  just  as  well  as  English;  and,  if  you  please,  one 
skein  more  of  cruel,  as  we  were  much  in  want  of  it. 

I  have  done  very  little  work  since  you  went  away;  not  because  I  was 
indolently  disposed,  but  because  you  did  so  much  in  helping  me  that  I 
have  nothing  to  do.  So  now  I  read  or  play  as  I  have  a  mind  to  do.  I 
get  but  very  little  of  my  Governor's  company.  He  loves  to  be  going 
about,  and  sometimes  (except  at  meals)  I  don't  see  him  an  hour  in  a 
day.  The  season  of  the  year  advances  so  rapidly  now  that  we  begin  to 
think  of  Winter  Quarters,  and  I  believe  we  shall  soon  get  to  town.  I 
guess  we  shall  set  off  about  the  time  we  proposed.  You  may  easily  think 
I  dread  the  journey,  as  the  roads  are  so  bad,  and  I  as  great  a  coward  as 
ever  existed.  I  tell  the  Governor  that  he  is  unlucky  in  a  wife  having 
so  timid  a  disposition,  and  he  so  resolute.  For  you  know  he  would  at- 
tempt, and  effect  if  possible,  to  ride  over  the  tops  of  the  trees  on  Moose 
Mountain,  while  poor  I  even  tremble  at  passing  through  a  road  cut  at  the 
foot  of  it. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


93 


Your  little  dog  grows  finely,  and  I  shall  bring  him  down  with  me. 
You  never  saw  such  a  parcel  of  animals  in  all  your  life,  and  they  have 
lessened  poor  Phyllis'  courage  down  to  a  standard,  for  she  can  hardly 
crawl  along.  But  I  intend  to  send  some  of  them  off  soon.  We  have 
given  Mr.  Livius  one,  and  our  neighbors  all  around  are  begging  to  have 
one,  so  that  the  stock  will  soon  be  lessened,  and  I  intend  to  see  that 
yours  is  the  best  taken  care  of  amongst  them.  Mrs.  Rindge  seems  now 
to  falter  in  her  intentions  to  spend  the  winter  in  town,  but  she  says  she 
is  fixed  on  passing  a  month  or  so  there.  I  believe  it  all  a  matter  of  un- 
certainty; for  the  roads  are  so  precarious  in  the  winter  months,  that  'tis 
impossible  to  fix  on  anything.  Her  baby  seems  to  grow  considerably  and 
looks  better  than  it  did,  so  that  I  begin  to  think  now  she  has  a  chance 
for  his  life.  You  know  it  looked  in  a  great  decline  at  the  time  you  was 
with  me.  I  am  obliged  for  your  charge  to  the  House  you  lodged  at  on 
the  road  to  be  in  readiness  for  our  return.  I  desire  things  only  a  little 
clean;  for  elegance  is  not  to  be  found  in  the  country.  1  hope  Mr.  Lang- 
don  and  your  little  ones  are  in  health.  I  pray  'you'l  present  my  best 
compliments  to  him,  and  tell  him  I  hope  the  roads  will  be  better  next 
year  to  induce  him  to  try  another  journey  to  Wolfeborough.  The  Gov- 
ernor has  just  come  in,  and  says  I  must  send  a  great  many  compliments 
to  you  and  Mr.  Langdon,  and  tell  you  he  knows  you'll  forget  how  to  eat 
beef  at  Portsmouth.  Wolfeborough  is  the  place  to  recover  appetites  and 
learn  people  to  relish  anything  that  is  set  before  them.  But  adieu.  I 
could  write  you  all  day,  but  am  called  on  for  my  letter  by  Mr.  Russel  who 
is  just  setting  out  for  his  journey.  This  relieves  you  from  the  trouble 
of  reading  a  long  penned  epistle  from  one  who  need  not  say  she  loves 
you;  since  you  know  you  can  command  every  friendship  that  flows  from 
the  heart  and  mind  of 

your  sincere  Friend  and  very  humble  Servant 

Frances  Wentworth 

Mrs.  Langdon,  to  whom  the  above  letter  \vas  written,  was  the 
wife  of  Hon.  Woodbury  Langdon,  who  afterwards  became  gov- 
ernor of  the  state  of  New  Hampshire.  Mrs.  Loring  was  a  very 
intimate  friend  of  Mrs.  Wentworth's.  They  were  about  the  same 
age,  and  were  married  the  same  year.  Her  husband  was  a  native 
of  Boston,  Mass.  They  had  a  son,  John  Wentworth  Loring,  born 
the  same  year  as  was  Governor  Wentworth's  son.  Mr.  Loring 
lost  much  property  on  account  of  his  adhesion  to  the  British  gov- 
ernment. He  died  in  England  in  1789.  Through  the  representa- 


94  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

tions  of  Lady  Wentworth,  his  widow  was  placed  on  the  English 
pension  list.  Mrs.  Livius  was  the  wife  of  Peter  Livius  of  Ports- 
mouth, then  a  member  of  Governor  Wentworth's  council.  She 
was  en  route  to  her  husband's  country  establishment  in  Tufton- 
borough  by  way  of  Lake  Wentworth  and  the  Miles  Road.  Livius 
commenced  operations  on  his  land  near  Mirror  Lake  about  the 
time  Governor  Wentworth  began  his  enterprise  in  Wolfeborough. 
The  delay  in  Mrs.  Livius'  journey  on  account  of  the  state  of  the 
weather,  and  the  passage  across  the  water  in  "a  high  gust  of  wind 
with  white  caps  as  large  as  the  Canoe,"  is  a  vivid  description  of 
scenes  and  events  familiar  to  the  present  inhabitants  of  the  region. 
Mrs.  Rindge  was  the  wife  of  Isaac  Rindge,  the  town  proprietor 
who  drew  lot  number  five.  Mr.  Rindge,  who  was  a  cousin  to  the 
governor,  and  supposed  to  be  friendly  to  the  English  in  the  time 
of  the  Revolutionary  War,  was  not  allowed  to  reside  within  fifteen 
miles  of  Portsmouth.  It  is  probable  that  he  retired  to  his  farm  in 
Wolfeborough. 

The  governor  and  his  family  were  at  their  town  residence  in 
November,  as  shown  by  the  following : — 

"THE  GOVERNOR  AND  LADY  INVITE  TO 

TEA  ON  THURSDAY  NEXT 

MR.  &  MRS.  LANGDON. 

TEA  AT  FIVE  O'CLOCK  P.  M. 

PORTSMOUTH,  FRIDAY  EVENING,  Nov.  23,  1770." 

Until  1775  a  large  part  of  the  warm  seasons  was  spent  by  the 
governor  and  his  family  at  the  farm.  This  was  probably  his 
choice,  although  once  in  addressing  the  assembly,  he  assigns  as  a 
reason  for  so  doing  the  inadequacy  of  his  salary  to  enable  him  to 
live  in  town.  Here,  undoubtedly,  he  spent  some  of  the  happiest 
months  of  his  life,  being  in  a  measure  removed  from  official  cares 
and  perplexites  and  actively  employed  in  the  entertaining  and  in- 
vigorating business  of  husbandry,  enlarging  the  area  of  cultivated 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


95 


land  and  in  various  ways  improving  it.  A  man  named  Sherburne 
was  hired  to  build  stone  fences,  which  were  so  well  constructed 
that  portions  of  them  are  still  standing,  and  are  known  as  the 
Sherburne  walls. 

Two  large  orchards  were  planted.  Fruit  at  that  time  was  mostly 
native,  and  generally  not  of  remarkably  fine  flavor.  One  apple 
grown  on  the  farm  became  quite  popular  among  the  inhabitants 
of  the  town,  and  its  product  was  considerably  increased  by  graft- 
ing. It  was  a  large,  oval  apple  of  a  red  color  and  a  flavor  which 
would  not  be  considered  particularly  fine  now.  Its  name  was  the 
"Farm  Sweet."  Better  varieties  have  displaced  it,  and  it  is  now 
seldom  seen  in  the  market. 

There  was  on  the  farm  a  pear  tree  that  bore  fruit  of  an  ex- 
cellent quality,  concerning  which  a  ludicrous  incident  is  told.  A 
person  who  had  a  strong  penchant  for  pears,  and  was  not  over- 
scrupulous in  relation  to  the  manner  of  obtaining  them,  en- 
deavored to  secure  some  of  these  by  converting  his  nether  gar- 
ments into  a  sack  and  filling  it  with  the  coveted  fruit.  A  sans 
culolte,  he  set  out  for  home  with  his  bagged  booty.  In  crossing 
a  pasture  where  a  herd  of  cattle  were  grazing,  a  vicious  bull  espied 
him,  and  with  loud  bellowings  gave  chase.  The  purloiner,  like  an 
affrighted  politician,  scurried  to  get  on  the  safe  side  of  the  fence, 
in  his  haste  scattering  his  plunder  by  the  way.  He  succeeded  in 
escaping  bodily  harm,  minus  the  pears  but  saving  the  trousers. 

It  seems  from  the  following  letter  that  Governor  Wentworth 
had  some  idea  of  building  a  mill  at  the  upper  falls  in  Smith's 
River  near  where  the  excelsior  mill  occupied  by  Frank  Hutchins 
now  stands.  The  letter  was  written  by  David  Sewall  of  York, 
Massachusetts  (now  Maine),  attorney  at  law,  to  Dr.  Ammi  R. 
Cutter,  practising  physician  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  They,  by  a 
grant  of  the  town  proprietors  of  Wolfeborough,  were  joint  and 
exclusive  owners  of  the  water  privilege  and  property  referred  to. 


96  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUQH. 

"November  n,  1774. 

SIR  : — Matthew  Parker  tells  me  as  tho'  Gov.  Wentworth 
was  about  erecting  a  mill  between  our  mill  and  the  dam  erected 
at  the  foot  of  Crooked  Pond.  If  there  be  the  place,  I  take  it  His 
Excellency  has  been  somehow  misinformed,  for  if  we  have  any 
grant  of  a  mill  privilege  from  the  proprietors,  it  includes  all  those 
falls.  The  words  of  our  grant  are,  "the  land  and  falls  in  Wolfe- 
borough  called  the  mill  priviledge,"  called  the  Falls,  Stream,  and 
appurtances,  containing  one  hundred  acres,  together  with  a  cer- 
tain island  in  Smith's  Pond  called  Mill  Island,  supposed  to  con- 
tain 100  acres.  Please  inquire  a  little  into  the  matter,  &c.  and 
prevent  our  entering  into  a  controversy  with  His  Excellency. 

Your  Humble  Servant, 

David  Sewall. 
Dr.  Cutter." 

Governor  Wentworth  visited  the  farm  in  the  spring  of  1775, 
probably  as  early  as  the  season  would  permit.  He  remained  only 
a  short  time,  his  departure  being  hastened  by  reports  from  Ports- 
mouth, where,  as  throughout  the  country,  there  was  great  excite- 
ment after  the  Battle  of  Lexington.  New  Hampshire  had  thus 
far  been  more  quiet  than  most  of  the  maritime  provinces  during 
the  unhappy  controversy  then  going  on.  This  was,  in  part,  due 
to  the  adroit  management  of  the  governor  and  his  manifestations 
of  kindliness  to  the  members  of  the  contending  parties.  No  doubt 
he  hoped  by  preserving  a  course  of  moderate  conservatism  to 
allay  the  prevailing  disquietude,  and,  provided  the  British  gov- 
ernment should  adopt  conciliatory  measures,  to  assist  in  restoring 
harmony  among  the  people.  He  said  to  his  secretary,  John  Fer- 
nald,  who  accompanied  him  in  his  journey  to  town,  "These  con- 
tentions will  soon  cease,  when  I  shall  return  to  this  sylvan  abode." 
Sad  disappointment  awaited  him.  He  was  never  again  to  behold 
the  green  fields  he  was  then  leaving. 

Before  us,  in  rapid  succession,  appear  the  lonely  journey,  the 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


97 


disordered  town,  the  threatening  populace,  the  stealthy  flight,  the 
dilapidated  fortress,  the  armed  vessel,  the  anxious  waiting,  the 
aimless  wandering,  and  finally  the  lifelong  exile.  The  curtain 
drops. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

HAPPENINGS  AT  THE  FARM  AFTER  THE  GOVERNOR'S  DEPARTURE 
—His  RXILE — CONFISCATION   OF   PROPERTY — PERSONAL 
EFFECTS  SOLD — THE  CATTLE  FEED  THE  PATRIOT  ARMY- 
PLANS    IOR    DISPOSING    OF    THE    ESTATE — THE  CABBOTTS' 

PURCHASE  IN  1782 — DANIEL  RAYNARD  BECOMES  THE 
OWNER — DIVISION  AND  SALE  OF  LAND — THE  MANSION- 
HOUSE  BURNED — SAD  REFLECTIONS — TREND  OF  DEVELOP- 
MENT OF  THE  LAND — THE  FUTURE  OF  THE  FARM. 

WHAT  took  place  at  the  farm  upon  the  departure  of  the  gov- 
ernor is  not  now  known.  Probably  for  a  while  the  affairs 
remained  under  the  management  of  overseers  who  had  been  previ- 
ously in  charge.  The  estate  was  practically  insolvent,  the  ex- 
penditures having  been  very  great  and  the  income  thus  far  com- 
paratively small.  When  Governor  'Wentworth  left  he  took  with 
him  very  few  of  his  personal  effects,  only  his  plate  and  several 
horses  from  the  fine  stud  which  he  possessed.  After  it  became 
conclusive  that  he  would  not  return  to  this  country,  his  father, 
Mark  Hunking  Wentworth,  attended  to  the  interests  of  the  estate. 
It  is  said  that  he  settled  the  personal  claims  against  his  son.  It 
was,  perhaps,  on  this  account  that  the  assembly,  April  17,  1780, 
passed  a  vote  "directing  Samuel  Gilman,  trustee  of  the  Estate  of 
the  late  Governor  Wentworth,  an  absentee,  to  deliver  to  Mark 
Hunking  Wentworth,  Esq.,  all  the  furniture  now  in  his  hands  at 
Portsmouth,  also  the  family  pictures  at  Wolfeborough." 

November  n,  1/78,  "John  Wentworth,  Esq.,  late  governor  of 
this  state,"  and  seventy-five  other  persons  were  forbidden  by  the 
legislature  of  the  state  to  return  to  it  without  leave,  under  the 
penalty  of  transportation.  A  return  to  the  state  after  transpor- 
tation subjected  the  person  to  the  penalty  of  death.  On  the 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


99 


eighteenth  day  of  the  same  month  the  estates  of  John  Wentworth 
and  twenty-seven  others  were  forfeited  to  the  use  of  the  state. 
On  the  twenty-sixth  of  the  following  December  the  legislature 
decreed  that  all  attachments  of  creditors  on  such  confiscated 
estates  were  void.  The  committee  to  take  possession  of  the  con- 
fiscated estates,  real  and  personal,  in  Strafford  County,  were  Ma- 
jor Caleb  Hodgdon,  Mr.  John  Burnham  Hanson,  and  Col.  Joseph 
Badger. 

The  committee  on  estates  of  absentees  advertised  for  sale  by 
public  auction  at  Dover  sundry  articles,  a  part  of  the  estate  of 
Governor  Wentworth.  Among  them  were  two  fine  weather- 
glasses and  a  valuable  collection  of  books.  The  legislature, 
March  13,  1779,  directed  the  committee  to  take  the  glasses  and 
books  to  Exeter,  that  town  being  then  practically  the  capital  of 
the  state.  March  25  it  was  voted  ''to  postpone  the  sale  of  the 
confiscated  books  to  a  more  convenient  season." 

March  15,  1780,  a  committee  was  chosen  by  the  legislature 
to  consider  the  expediency  of  selling  the  Wentworth  House  and 
furniture,  also  the  stock  on  the  farm.  April  19  the  assembly 
voted  "that  the  pasture  at  Wolfeborough,  lately  Governor  Went- 
worth's,  Be  improved  the  current  year  for  pasturing  and  faten- 
ing  beef  cattle  for  the  supply  of  the  continental  army ;  that  the 
cattle  on  said  farm  at  Wolfeborough  that  are,  or  may  be  soon 
fatted  for  beef,  be  reserved  and  fatted  for  the  same  purpose ;  that 
Capt.  Samuel  Gilman,  the  trustee  of  the  same  Governor  Went- 
worth estate,  be  directed  to  exchange  any  horse  or  horse  kind, 
or  any  other  cattle  unfit  for  beef  on  said  farm,  for  beef  cattle  for 
the  same  purpose ;  that  the  pork,  beef,  corn,  hogs  and  other 
provisions  on  said  farm  at  Wolfeborough  be  reserved,  and  kept 
for  the  uses  and  purposes  aforesaid.'' 

June  8  the  assembly  voted  "that  the  sale  of  the  late  Governor 
Wentworth  estate  proceed  according  to  advertisement,"  which 
was  evidently  at  public  venclue ;  that  the  trustee  sell  the  cattle  and 
horses  at  the  same  time.  The  conditions  of  the  sale,  prepared 


I00  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

by  a  committee,  were  as  follows:  "that  ten  per  cent  on  each 
purchase  be  paid  down  when  the  same  is  struck  off,  which  is  to 
be  forfeited  in  case  the  other  payments  are  not  made  as  follows : 
that  the  remainder  for  the  personal  estate  be  paid  when  the  same 
is  delivered ;  that  one-third  of  the  remainder  due  for  the  real  estate 
be  paid  in  fifteen  days,  one-third  in  six  weeks,  and  one-third  in 
ten  weeks  after  the  sale ;  that  the  trustee  give  a  deed  when  the 
second  payment  is  made,  upon  good  security  being  given  for  the 
remainder/'  It  is  probable  that  little,  if  any,  of  the  real  estate  was 
disposed  of  at  the  vendue,  as  on  June  28th  the  assembly  authorized 
the  trustee  to  sell  a  lease  of  the  farm  on  the  best  terms  he  could. 

November  14,  1781;  the  assembly  voted  "that  Capt.  Oilman 
sell  no  more  of  the  Wentworth  estate,  until  the  further  order  of 
the  general  court."  About  this  time  the  state  of  New  Hampshire 
paid  to  the  town  of  Wolfeborough  for  taxes  on  the  Wentworth 
Farm  over  four  hundred  and  nine  pounds.  March  20,  1782,  the 
council  voted  "that  the  lands  of  the  Governor  Wentworth  estate 
were  so  peculiarly  circumstanced  as  to  render  the  sale  difficult 
at  present,  and  that  the  trustee  be  directed  not  to  make  sale  of  any 
of  the  same  until  further  order  of  the  general  court." 

Early  in  1782  the  \Ventworth  Farm  came  into  the  possession  of 
two  brothers,  Andrew  and  John  Cabbott,  of  Beverly,  Mass.,  who 
purposed  to  make  it  a  stock-farm,  and  eventually  their  home. 
They  cleared  and  improved  more  land,  and  erected  two  barns  and 
two  other  farm  buildings.  They  alsobuilt  a  large  structure  tobe  used 
for  a  school  house  and  residence  for  the  teacher,  towards  which 
the  mall  from  the  mansion-house  extended.  The  carpenter  who 
constructed  it  was  Deering  Stoddard.  Subsequently  he  and  his 
descendants  occupied  it  as  a  residence,  and  it  was  long  known  as 
the  "Stoddard  House."  Recently  it  has  been  remodeled,  and 
now  is  the  home  of  Irving  S.  Gilman. 

When  the  Cabbotts  took  possession  of  the  farm,  it  contained 
about  three  thousand  acres  of  land.  Its  buildings  were  valued 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  IOI 

by  the  assessors  at  a  goodly  figure.  They  purchased  fine  breeds 
of  horses  and  neat  cattle,  having,  it  is  said,  at  one  time  twenty- 
five  of  the  former  and  one  hundred  of  the  latter.  John  Martin, 
a  brother  of  the  late  Isaac  Martin,  was  superintendent  of  the  farm. 
He  held  the  position  until  1785,  when  he  returned  to  his  home  in 
Massachusetts.  Deering  Stoddard  was  superintendent  for  the 
next  three  years,  until  the  return  of  Mr.  Martin,  who  occu- 
pied the  place  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1794.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Nathaniel  Brown,  who  probably  erected  the 
Kendall  house  situated  near  Brookfield  line. 

Soon  after  the  Cabbotts  purchased  the  farm,  Andrew  died. 
John  never  became  a  permanent  resident  of  Wolfeborough,  and  in 
1794  he  also  died.  In  1795  the  estate  came  into  the  possession  of 
E.  Haskell  Derby,  of  Salem,  Mass.,  a  Mr.  Lane  afterwards  be- 
came a  joint  or  sole  owner,  and  it  was  known  for  a  short  time 
as  the  "Lane  Farm."  In  1805  it  was  nominally  in  the  possession 
of  one  McDonough. 

In  the  autumn  of  1805  or  the  spring  of  the  following  year,  the 
Wentworth  Farm  was  purchased  by  Daniel  Raynard,  of  Boston, 
for  seventeen  thousand  dollars.  Mr.  Raynard  was  a  native  of  this 
country,  but  went  to  England  for  the  purpose  of  learning  the  art 
of  plaster  and  stucco  work.  He  there  married  Margarette  Whit- 
ton,  a  member  of  a  family  of  some  note  in  Yorkshire  County,  and 
returned  to  this  country  with  his  family.  He  established  a  busi- 
ness in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  and,  it  is  said,  owned  three  acres  of 
land  on  Bunker  Hill.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Boston,  where 
he  was  very  successful.  He  became  proficient  in  his  art,  and, 
tradition  says,  superintended  the  stucco  work  of  the  Massachusetts 
State  House.  He  brought  to  Wolfeborough  the  first  pleasure 
carriage  owned  in  town.  He  sold  three  one-hundred-acre  lots 
to  George  and  John  Whitton,  brothers  of  his  wife,  and  John 
Bovvker,  but  did  not  reduce  the  area  of  his  purchase  very  much. 
After  residing  in  Wolfeborough  several  years,  he  visited  Norfolk, 
Va..  where  he  died,  his  family  still  remaining  at  the  farm. 


I02  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

The  settlement  of  the  estate  rendered  a  sale  of  a  portion  of 
the  land  necessary.  One  tract  of  four  hundred  acres  was  pur- 
chased by  James  Fernald,  who  soon  after  transferred  a  portion 
of  it  to  his  brother  William.  The  latter  erected  buildings  on  it 
near  the  spot  where  the  Whitton  Road  joins  the  Farm  Road.  The 
house  has  since  been  removed,  and  is  now  the  residence  of  Thomas 
L.  Whitton.  On  the  Fernald  farm  was  reared  Jonathan  P.  Fer- 
nald, who  was  so  long  a  resident  of  Center  Wolfeborough  as  to 
give  to  that  hamlet  the  name  of  Fernald's  Corner.  He  was  on  the 
roof  of  the  Wentvvorth  House  when  it  was  burned,  and  in  descend- 
ing from  it  received  a  permanent  injury. 

Jonathan  Poor  Fernald  was  the  son  of  William  who  married 
Betsy,  the  daughter  of  Phineas  Johnson.  He  was  born  December 
i.  1797,  and  died  April  21,  1893,  aged  ninety-six  years.  He 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  Robert  Pike,  of  Middleton.  His 
children  were  Maria,  born  December  16,  1822,  married  Orin 
Dbcon  ;  Mary  E.,  born  December  12,  1824,  married  Joseph  L. 
Dixon  ;  Hannah,  born  1826,  died  young;  Hannah,  born  Novem- 
ber 29,  1829,  married  Joshua  P..  Haines ;  Nancy  H.,  born  May  3, 
1832,  married  William  T.  Dorr;  Brackett,  born  December  24, 
1834,  died  young;  Joan  M.,  born  August  30,  1837,  married  Samuel 
H.  Buzzel ;  James  W.,  born  July  24,  1839,  married  Sarah  Higgins, 
of  Cape  Cod,  Mass. ;  Sophronia  C.,  born  October  10,  1841  ; 
Jonathan  B.,  born  March  11,  1844,  died  June  23,  1867  ;  Charles  A., 
born  December  5,  1847,  married  Eliza  A.  Acres  of  Boston. 

Mr.  Fernald  preserved  his  faculties  to  a  remarkable  degree  up 
to  the  \ery  time  of  his  death.  The  writer  of  this  work  was  greatly 
assisted  by  the  information  he  was  able  to  give  so  intelligently. 

After  the  death  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Raynard  continued  to 
manage  the  estate,  occupying  the  Wentworth  House  until  it  was 
burned,  in  1820.  During  the  same  year  the  large  pine  tree  on 
Mount  Delight,  under  whose  branches  the  governor's  family 
frequently  took  their  mid-day  meal,  was  destroyed  by  lightning, 
and  the  governor  himself  died.  After  the  burning  of  the  Went- 


JONATHAN   P.   FERNALD 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


103 


worth  House,  Mrs.  Raynard  occupied  the  "Stoddard  House," 
until  she  and  her  son-in-law,  Quimby,  erected  another  on  land 
still  remaining  in  their  possession  at  a  considerable  distance  north 
of  the  mansion-house.  Here  they  resided  several  years,  when 
they  exchanged  it  with  Ichabod  Libbey  for  real  estate  in  Tufton- 
borough.  Charles  A.  Whitton  now  occupies  the  premises. 

Thus  ends  the  particular  past  history  of  the  Wentworth  Farm. 
Much  of  its  area  has  still  a  sparse  population,  although  there  are 
within  its  limits  valuable  farms,  owned  by  thrifty  husbandmen. 
During  the  past  century,  on  portions  of  it  have  grown  heavy 
forests,  which  have  been  leveled  by  the  woodman's  axe. 

Sad  thoughts  may  come  to  the  visitor,  as  he  looks  on  the 
scanty  weather-stained  debris  lying  in  the  old  cellar,  the  dilapi- 
dated stone  fences,  the  scraggy  apple  trees  in  the  decaying 
orchards,  the  unkempt  pastures  where  were  once  odorous  gardens 
and  fertile  fields ;  but  the  farm  has  a  future  of  more  promising 
utility  than  perhaps  might  have  been  the  anticipated  splendor  of  a 
propitious  past. 

The  keen  vision  of  the  land  speculator  has  discovered  its  dawn- 
ing, and  with  a  shrewdness  characteristic  of  his  class  has  already 
secured  much  of  its  territory  for  future  profits.  A  considerable 
portion  of  its  shore  has  been  sold  for  camp  sites  and  the  idea  of 
the  original  owner  as  to  its  desirability  for  summer  residence  pur- 
poses bids  fair  to  be  realized.  The  time  is  coming  when  its 
environs  will  be  appreciated ;  when  the  shores  and  islands  of 
Lake  Wentworth  will  be  dotted  with  cottages ;  when  a  road  will 
t>e  constructed,  uniting  existing  highways,  and  furnishing  a 
fifteen-mile  drive  through  varied  and  beautiful  scenery  around  that 
fine  sheet  of  water ;  and  when  the  plain  where  stood  the  farm 
buildings,  the  eastern  slope,  the  sides  of  Mount  Delight,  and  the 
now  lonely  Farm  Road  will  be  the  scene  of  bustling  activity.  The 
neighboring  localities  will  share  in  the  prosperity.  Martin's 
Hill  and  Cotton  Valley  and  Mountain,  with  their  numerous 
natural  attractions  hitherto  scarcely  noticed  bv  the  tillers  of  the 


104  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

soil,  will  surprise  the  aroused  inhabitants,  when  they  discover 
the  various  sources  of  profit  and  pleasure  that  are  at  their  very 
doors.  These  are  not  fanciful  chimeras,  but  deductions  from 
careful  observations.  So  long  as  water  flows,  and  grass  grows, 
New  Hampshire  will  be  a  favorite  resort.  Its  mountains,  hills, 
and  valleys ;  its  lakes,  ponds,  and  streams ;  its  lairs  and  fisheries ; 
its  varied  scenery,  its  invigorating  air,  will  ever  bring  to  it  increas- 
ing multitudes.  As  facilities  for  travel  shall  improve,  and  art  aid 
natural  beauty,  the  number  of  visitors  will  become  larger  and 
the  resources  of  the  state  increased. 

Probably  no  town  in  New  Hampshire  presents  a  greater  variety 
of  attractions  than  Wolfeborough.  This  is  the  universal  testimony 
of  those  who  come  within  its  borders.  The  Wentworth  Farm 
region  has  been  remote  from  frequented  roads,  and  subjected 
to  constant  neglect  for  a  century ;  at  present  it  has  unappreciated 
excellencies.  When  these  are  developed  and  utilized,  as  they 
eventually  will  be,  it  will  be  found  that  this  is  one  of  the  most 
charming  portions  of  the  town.  East  Wolfeborough  is  destined 
to  ultimately  become  a  quite  noted  summer  resort.  Governor 
Wentworth  chose  wisely  when  he  selected  the  locality  for  his 
rural  abode. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

FIRST  SETTLERS — HENRY  RUST  CLEARS  LAND — His  SONS  WINTER 
IN  THE  TOWN — His  WIFE — A  SKETCH  OF  HIS  LIFE — 
REUBEN  LIBBEY — SETTLER'S  LOT — PARKER'S  AGENT — A 
TOWN  OFFICIAL,  SOLDIER,  AND  BEAR  HUNTER — PAUL 
MARCH  AND  HIS  CONTRACT — LOCATION  OF  THE  SEVEN 
FARMS — THE  FIFTY-ACRE  LOTS — THE  LUCAS,  NOWELL, 
AVERY,  MANNING,  AND  GOULD  INTERESTS — SECOND  FARM 
— SAMUEL  TEBBETTS — DUDLEY  L.  LIBBEY — BLAKE  FOL- 
SOM — DANIEL  E.  LEAVITT — THIRD  FARM — JOSEPH  LARY 
— JOHN  SINKLER — DANIEL  WIGGIN — BENJAMIN  WEB- 
STER— FOURTH  FARM — THOMAS  PIPER  SELLS  FARM  AND 
SETTLES  ON  FiFTY-ACRE  LOT — T\VO  SONS  IN  THE  REVOLU- 
TION— TIMOTHY  PIPER'S  FAMILY — JOHN  PIPER'S  REMARK- 
ABLE FAMILY — EBENEZER  MEADER  PURCHASES  PIPER'S 
LOT — THE  FIRST  PIG  ARRIVES  IN  TOWN — A  JOURNEY 
THROUGH  THE  FOREST — THE  BLACKSMITH — FlFTH  FARM 
—THOMAS  TAYLOR — FIRST  MALE  CHILD  BORN — BEX- 
JAMIN  FOLSOM — JONATHAN  CHASE — A  CENTENARIAN— 
THE  FOLSOM  FAMILY — SIXTH  FARM — BENJAMIN  BLAKE 
—JONATHAN  AND  DANIEL  BLAKE — SEVENTH  FARM — 
WIDOW  MARY  FULLERTON — Two  SOLDIERS — THE  DAUGH- 
TERS. 

THE  same  year  in  which  Governor  Wentworth  commenced  his 
enterprise  at  the  farm,  1768,  nine  persons  began  settlements 
in  the  southwest  part  of  Wolfeborough.  They  were  Henry  Rust, 
Reuben  Libbey,  James  Lucas,  Samuel  Tebbetts,  Joseph  Lary, 
Thomas  Piper,  Thomas  Taylor,  Benjamin  Blake,  and  William 
Fullerton. 

Henry  Rust  was  one  of  the  town  proprietors,  and  had  a  lot  in 
the  southerly  part  of  the  town  which  has  already  been  described. 

105 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


He  did  not  at  first  take  his  entire  family  to  Wolfeborough,  nor 
did  the  portion  that  came  remain  throughout  the  whole  year.  He 
and  his  two  sons,  Henry  and  Richard,  spent  the  warm  seasons  on 
the  lot,  clearing  land  and  raising  crops,  returning  to  their  home 
in  Portsmouth  in  the  winter.  He  built  a  log  camp  and  hovel  in 
the  northerly  part  of  his  lot.  Here  the  sons,  when  twelve  and 
fourteen  years  of  age,  remained  alone  during  one  winter,  hav- 
ing an  elderly  horse  with  them  for  emergencies.  Subsequently, 
while  the  captain  and  his  sons  were  engaged  in  laboring  in  a  dis- 
tant part  of  the  lot,  the  camp  was  burned. 

It  is  not  probable  that  Mrs.  Rust  came  to  Wolfeborough  until 
1773,  after  her  husband  had  provided  for  the  family  a  commodious 
dwelling  on  the  northerly  shore  of  that  beautiful  sheet  of  water, 
since  known  as  Rust's  Pond.  This  house  or  the  one  succeeding 
it  was  called  the  "Parker  House."  It  was  burned  about  1880. 
It  was  \vith  reluctance  that  Airs.  Rust  exchanged  the  town  home 
for  a  residence  in  the  wilderness.  She  was  quite  obese,  and  could 
not  journey  on  horseback,  the  early  settlers'  usual  mode  of  travel- 
ing, but  was  compelled  to  ride  in  an  ox-cart,  that  being  the  only 
wheeled  vehicle  then  in  use. 

Capt.  Rust  was  so  called  from  being  a  shipmaster.  He  made 
several  short  sea  voyages  after  he  commenced  his  farming  opera- 
tions in  Wolfeborough,  while  his  family  were  still  residing  in 
Portsmouth.  Pie  was,  however,  more  generally  known  as  Col. 
Rust,  this  title  indicating  his  military  rank.  After  Mr.  Rust  had 
become  established  in  Wolfeborough,  he  at  once  became  its  lead- 
ing citizen,  largely  controlling  public  affairs,  and  acting  as  arbiter 
between  disagreeing  persons  and  neighborhoods.  A  sketch  of 
him  and  his  family  will  appear  farther  on. 

Reuben  Libby  came  from  Xew  Durham.  He  had  a  settler's 
lot  of  one  hundred  acres  of  John  Parker,  whose  proprietary  lot 
comprised  the  whole  of  Wolfeborough  Xeck.  Libby  chose  the 
lot  that  extended  farthest  into  the  lake  that  he  might  be  near  the 
water  route  from  Merry  Meeting  (Alton)  Bav  to  Moulton- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  IQJ 

borough,  some  settlements  having  already  been  made  in  that 
town.  He  had  the  previous  year  made  some  preparations  for  a 
crop,  and  took  with  him  a  horse  and  a  few  neat  cattle.  He  married 
Sarah,  daughter  of  Widow  Mary  Fullerton.  This  was  the  first 
marriage  that  occurred  in  Wolfeborough.  The  nuptial  ceremony 
was  performed  under  the  branches  of  a  large  oak  tree  that  stood 
beside  the  Miles  Road  on  land  now  owned  by  Benjamin  Morri- 
son. 

Libby  was  quite  illiterate,  as  were  nearly  all  the  persons  who 
took  up  settlers'  lots  in  Wolfeborough.  The  following  writing 
will  show  that,  also  that  he  was  managing  Parker's  affairs  in  the 
town : — 

"Barronton  July  26  Day   1771. 

Capte.  John  Parker  Sir  Please  to  Pay  to  the  Barer  Joseph  Hall 
ten  Pounds  Lawfull  Money  for  won  yoak  of  oxen  which  I  have 
Bought  for  the  youse  of  your  farm  on  Wolfborough  Neck. 

Reuben  Libbe." 

Notwithstanding  his  lack  of  education,  Libbey  was  quite  active 
in  town  matters,  and  held  several  responsible  positions.  He  was 
a  member  of  several  boards  of  selectmen,  and  in  1785  and  1794 
was  sent  to  the  legislature  to  represent  the  classed  towns  of 
Moultonborough,  Tnftonborough,  Wolfeborough,  and  Ossipee. 
He  held  the  different  grades  of  commissioned  officer  in  the  militia 
company  of  the  town,  and  in  1779  enlisted  in  the  army  to  fill  the 
Wolfeborough  quota  for  the  Rhode  Island  expedition.  He  had 
previously  agreed  with  the  town  authorities  to  hold  the  town 
harmless  in  regard  to  the  matter,  and  being  unable  to  find  a  man 
willing  to  serve  as  a  soldier,  he  himself  enlisted.  He  received 
for  bounty  and  travel  forty-six  pounds  and  sixteen  shillings,  a 
sum,  the  real  value  of  which  it  is  now  difficult  to  determine  on 
account  of  the  fluctuating  state  of  the  currency  at  that  period. 
His  hay  crop  was  to  be  harvested  by  the  town. 


Iog  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

In  early  life  Libbey  was  a  noted  bear  hunter,  killing  thirty-six 
in  one  season.  He  did  not  remain  on  the  Neck  farm  during  his 
whole  life,  but  removed  to  the  more  compact  part  of  the  town. 
Near  the  close  of  the  century  he  held  the  office  of  deputy  sheriff, 
a  position  of  more  relative  importance  than  it  now  is.  He  is 
said  to  have  been  quite  negligent  in  his  attire,  caring  little  for 
his  personal  appearance.  A  humorous  anecdote  has  long  been 
circulating,  which,  it  is  claimed,  had  its  origin  from  an  exhibition 
of  this  characteristic. 

In  the  autumn  of  1765  Paul  March  agreed  with  the  committee 
on  settlements  to  have  ten  families  located  in  Wolfeborough  by 
the  following  spring.  Each  family  was  to  clear  four  acres  of  land 
and  to  build  a  house  equal  to  one  twenty  feet  square  by  the  suc- 
ceeding autumn.  Doing  this,  it  would  be  entitled  to  one  hundred 
and  fifty  acres  of  land  situated  in  the  westerly  part  of  the  town. 
If  March  succeeded  in  the  enterprise,  he  would  be  entitled  to  a 
similar  lot.  If  he  failed,  he  was  to  forfeit  his  own  proprietary  lot, 
and  pay  twenty-five  pounds,  lawful  money.  Each  settler  was 
obligated  to  remain  on  his  lot  ten  years,  either  in  person  or  by 
substitution,  and  improve  the  same. 

The  project  failed  in  part,  but  not  altogether.  Seven  families 
carne  to  the  town  in  the  spring  of  1768  under  the  patronage  of 
March,  but  the  number  of  settlers  was  not  so  large,  nor  the 
period  before  settling  so  short,  as  the  agreement  required.  March 
did  not  probably  suffer  loss  on  account  of  non-compliance  with 
the  precise  terms  of  the  contract,  as  the  obstacles  in  the  way  of  se- 
curing settlers  was  so  great  at  that  time  that  a  partial  failure 
would  be  deemed  excusable. 

"\Yolfeborough  was  a  wilderness,  surrounded  by  an  almost  un- 
broken forest  of  large  extent,  with  no  roads  from  settled  districts 
reaching  or  very  nearly  approaching  it,  excepting,  perhaps,  a  path 
leading  from  Rochester  through  the  second  division  of  Middleton, 
and  it  is  not  certain  that  any  such  existed.  A  census  of  Xew 
Hampshire  was  taken  in  1767 \  and  only  two  towns  within  a  radius 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  IOQ 

of  twenty  miles  reported  inhabitants.  These  were  Gilmanton 
with  forty-five  families  and  a  population  of  two  hundred  and  fifty, 
and  New  Durham  with  twenty-five  families  and  a  population  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty-seven.  There  were  a  very  few  families  in 
Moultonborough,  also  in  Wakefield,  and  possibly  one  or  two  at 
Merry  Meeting.  Land  was  low-priced  in  New  Hampshire  even 
in  or  near  settled  towns,  and  comparatively  few  persons  were  in- 
clined to  brave  the  inconveniences  and  hardships  of  pioneer  life. 
Only  the  more  indigent  or  resolute  could  be  induced  to  under- 
take it. 

The  persons  who  took  settlers'  lots  in  1768  under  the  patronage 
of  March  were  James  Lucas,  Samuel  Tebbetts,  Joseph  Lary, 
Thomas  Piper,  Thomas  Taylor,  Benjamin  Blake,  and  William 
Fullerton.  The  land  which  became  their  home  farms,  seven  hun- 
dred acres,  extended  from  the  rangeway  near  Friend  street  to 
and  including  the  Fullerton  farm,  being  bounded  on  one  side  by 
the  Miles  Road  and  on  the  other  by  Lake  Winnipesaukee.  The 
fifty-acre  lots,  to  one  of  which  each  settler  was  entitled,  were 
situated  on  Pine  Hill,  north  of  the  present  highway,  and  extended 
from  Pine  Hill  schoolhouse  to  Tuftonborough  line.  The  farm- 
lots  varied  in  width  on  account  of  their  difference  in  length  occa- 
sioned by  the  curvatures  of  the  shore  of  the  lake. 

The  first,  or  most  easterly  lot,  was  fifty-six  rods  wide.  It  was 
taken  by  James  Lucas.  Associated  with  him  was  Thomas  Lu- 
cas, who  was  probably  a  brother.  They  were  about  fifty  years  of 
age,  and  had  each  of  them  a  family.  James  was  a  moderator  of 
the  first  town-meeting ;  and  Thomas,  a  member  of  the  first  board 
of  selectmen.  The  latter  was  also  elected  moderator  five  times. 
The  family  was  of  Irish  ancestry,  and  came  from  Suncook  to 
Wolfeborough.  Its  descendants  became  quite  numerous,  and 
occupied  different  portions  of  the  town.  It  retained  possession 
of  the  farm  for  two  generations,  when  it  was  purchased  by  Samuel 
Nowell,  whose  family  occupied  it  for  a  period  of  about  the  same 
length.  One-half  of  it  then  came  into  the  possession  of  two 


I10  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

brothers,  A.  D.  and  J.  L.  Avery,  the  former  of  whom  still  holds  it. 
The  remaining  half  was  purchased  in  1883  from  the  heirs  of 
Charles  Nowell,  a  grandson  of  Samuel,  by  I.  B.  Manning,  who 
now  occupies  the  old  homestead  and  the  house  Lucas  built.  One 
acre  of  this  land  has  been  sold  to  Jesse  Gould,  who  has  erected 
a  handsome  summer  residence  upon  it.  Either  this  Samuel  Nowell 
or  his  father  was  a  member  of  the  famous  Boston  Tea  Party. 

Xehemiah,  a  son  of  James  Lucas,  settled  on  the  most  southerly 
of  the  fifty-acre  lots  on  Pine  Hill.  A  rise  of  land  near  the  buildings 
now  occupied  by  Jonathan  F.  Estes  is  still  called  "Miah's  Hill." 
In  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  was  afflicted  with  blindness,  the 
result  of  an  injury  received  from  the  horn  of  a  cow,  and  was  sup- 
ported at  the  public  expense. 

A  grandson  of  James  Lucas,  James  Lucas  3rd,  obtained  a  con- 
siderable tract  of  land  from  the  William  Torrey  proprietors'  lot. 
It  extended  from  the  main  road,  near  Pickering's  Corner,  across 
Smith's  River,  to  Crooked  Pond.  A  few  acres  near  the  upper 
dam,  bequeathed  to  Mark  Lucas  by  his  father,  James  Lucas,  3rd, 
is  still  in  the  possession  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Francis  B.  Cook. 
The  blood  of  the  Lucas  family  flows  in  the  veins  of  many  persons 
in  the  vicinity,  but  very  few  having  that  cognomen  now  reside  in 
the  town. 

The  second  lot,  fifty  rods  wide,  was  taken  by  Samuel  Tebbetts. 
On  it  was  built  the  first  pound,  Mr.  Tebbetts  being  pound-keeper 
for  several  years.  He  was  a  millwright  and  framer,  the  town 
meeting-house  being  framed  by  him.  The  Tebbetts  family  held 
the  place  for  three  generations,  when  it  became  the  property  of 
Dudley  Leavitt  Libbey.  It  is  now  owned  by  Blake  Folsom,  and 
conducted  as  a  milk-farm  by  his  nephew,  Blake  Home.  On  a 
spacious  lot  affording  fine  landscape  views,  which  has  been  taken 
from  this  farm.  Daniel  E.  Leavitt,  of  Portsmouth,  has  erected  a 
fine  summer  residence.  Samuel  Tebbetts  had  two  sons,  Benjamin 
and  Levi.  The  latter  settled  in  Tuftonborough,  while  Benjamin 
remained  on  the  home  farm,  where  he  raised  a  familv  of  children. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  Iri 

among  whom  was  Charles  G.  Tebbetts,  who  sold  the  farm  to 
Libbey.  There  are  several  families  in  town  bearing  the  name  of 
Tebbetts.  Some  of  them  may  be  relatives  of  Samuel,  the  settler, 
but  generally  they  are  not  at  all  closely  allied. 

The  third  lot,  also  fifty-five  rods  wide,  was  taken  by  Joseph 
Lary.  Three  families  of  this  name  came  early  to  the  town  from 
Suncook,  Joseph's,  Jonathan's,  and  John's.  They  were  evidently 
of  Irish  origin,  and  were  probably  related,  the  men,  perhaps,  be- 
ing brothers.  Joseph's  wife  was  the  daughter  of  Lieutenant 
Qiarles_Rx>gers,  who  spent  the  last  years  of  his  life  with  her.  She 
was  an  athletic  woman,  and  when  the  house  for  the  occupancy 
of  the  family,  the  walls  of  which  were  made  of  logs,  was  in  pro- 
cess of  building,  carried  the  boards  used  in  roofing  an  up-hill 
grade  of  more  than  a  mile. 

Joseph  and  Jonathan  Lary  were  quite  prominent  in  the  affairs 
of  the  town,  holding  several  important  official  positions.  Jonathan 
afterwards  removed  to  the  center  of  the  town,  where  he  was  in- 
strumental in  erecting  a  sawmill  on  what  is  known  as  the  Willey 
Mill  Stream.  He  remained  there  several  years,  and  then,  dis- 
posing of  his  interest  to  William  Triggs,  left  town.  This  mill 
was  at  first  erected  by  sundry  persons,  who  owned  shares,  but 
was  principally  managed, — first,  by  Jonathan  Lary ;  then,  by  Wil- 
liam Triggs  ;  and  afterwards,  by  Valentine  Willey.  The  mill  was 
finally  sold  to  Valentine  B.  Willey,  who  is  its  present  owner.  At 
different  periods  it  has  borne  the  names  of  the  various  proprietors. 

It  has  been  supposed  that  the  Lary  premises  were  wholly  or 
in  part  occupied  by  John  Sinkler,  who  came  from  Stratham  about 
1770,  and  that  he  here  kept  a  two-roomed  tavern.  The  farm,  how- 
ever, was  in  Lary's  possession  at  a  later  date,  when  he  sold  it  to 
Daniel  Wiggin,  who  also  came  from  Stratham.  Wiggin  died 
suddenly,  when  comparatively  young.  His  grand-daughter,  the 
wife  of  Benjamin  Webster,  now  dwells  on  the  farm. 

The  fourth  lot,  which  was  fifty-four  rods  wide,  was  settled  by 
Thomas  Piper,  who  probably  came  from  Stratham.  After  two 


II2  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

years  he  sold  it  to  Ebenezer  Meader,  and  removed  to  the  "Mills," 
where  Cutter  &  Sewall  had  just  completed  a  grist-mill.  He  re- 
mained there  a  few  years,  becoming  the  miller,  then  entered  on 
his  fifty-acre  lot  on  Pine  Hill.  Here  he  built  a  house,  and  cleared 
land.  This  was  his  residence  until  his  death,  which  occurred  sev- 
eral years  afterwards.  It  is  said  that  he  served  in  the  army  dur- 
ing one  short  campaign,  and  that  his  wife,  during  his  absence,  used 
to  frighten  the  bears  from  the  growing  corn  with  torches. 

Mr.  Piper  had  seven  children,  Thomas,  David,  Samuel, 
Timothy,  John,  Mary,  and  Susan.  David  and  John  were  soldiers 
in  the  army  during  the  most  of  the  war,  the  latter  enlisting  when 
he  was  only  sixteen.  David  married  Molly  Edmunds,  and  settled 
on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  B.  Burleigh  Newell.  He  had 
five  children,  Joseph,  Sally,  Abigail,  Susan,  and  Mary.  Timothy 
had  twelve  children,  all  of  whom  reached  mature,  some  of  them, 
advanced  age.  They  are  said  to  have  averaged  two-hundred 
pounds  in  weight.  He  settled  in  Tuftonborough. 

John  spent  the  first  portion  of  his  life  on  Pine  Hill,  but  the 
greater  part  of  it  near  Tuftonborough  Center.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried. His  first  wife  was  Jemima  Hersey,  of  New  Market.  She 
bore  him  ten  children,  as  follows  : 

John,  born  August  I,  1783;  Betsy,  born  May  15,  1785,  died  in 
1802;  James,  born  March  14,  1787;  Thomas,  born  March  29, 
1789;  Gilman,  born  February  26,  1791;  William,  born  January 
24,  1793;  Nancy,  born  October  n,  1794,  married  Jeremiah  Foss, 
of  Tuftonborough;  Mary,  born  May  2,  1797,  married  Mark  Her- 
sey, of  Sanbornton  ;  Abigail,  born  May  26,  1799,  married  William 
Fullerton  ;  Jemima,  born  January  4,  1803,  married  Samuel  Leavitt 
and  Wm.  Blaisdell,  both  of  Tuftonborough. 

Betsy  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  of  consumption 
brought  on  by  a  cold  occasioned  by  wearing  a  thin  ball-dress  in 
winter.  She  was  \.\\z  fiancee  oi  James  Hersey,  the  second  son  of 
Jonathan,  the  settler.  The  sons,  John,  James,  Thomas,  Gilman, 


HON.  CHARLES   F.   PIPE.R 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  u$ 

and  William,  became  farmers,  and  made  their  homes  in  Tufton- 
borough. 

Mr.  Piper  married  for  a  second  wife,  Anna  Young,  of  Tufton- 
borough.  She  became  the  mother  of  eleven  children,  as  follows: 

Phebe  A.,  born  August  10,  1804,  married  Stephen  Pendergast, 
of  Barnstead;  Paul  W.,  born  September  17,  1805,  settled  in  Mor- 
ristown,  N.  J. ;  Susan  W.,  born  October  26,  1806,  married  Joseph 
Ayers,  of  Barnstead;  Betsey  A.,  born  January  8,  1808,  married 
Oliver  Sanborn,of  Rochester ;  Lucinda  C.,born  July  24, 1809,  mar- 
ried Charles  Pinkham  and  Abel  Haley,  both  of  Tuftonborough ; 
Napoleon  B.,  born  November  28,  1810,  died  in  St.  Marks,  Fla. ; 
Martha  W.,  born  February  6,  1812,  married  Nathaniel  Mason; 
Sarah  H.,  born  May  20,  1813,  married  Levi  T.  Hersey ;  Patience 
C.,  born  October  15,  1814,  married  Asa  Allen,  of  Lee;  Benjamin 
Y.,  born  April  29,  1816,  settled  in  Lee;  Vienna  E.,  born  January 
16,  1821,  married  Lyman  Allen,  of  Nottingham. 

These  twenty-one  children,  with  the  exception  of  the  first 
Betsy,  reached  full  adult  age.  Nineteen  became  heads  of  families, 
and  eighteen  were  present  at  the  burial  of  their  father.  Several 
of  them  became  quite  advanced  in  years.  Sarah,  Mrs.  Levi  T. 
Hersey,  was  eighty-six  years  nine  months  old  at  the  time  of  her 
death,  and  Benjamin  Y.,  aged  eighty-five  years,  still  survives. 

Hon.  Charles  F.  Piper  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  Y.,  the  twentieth 
son  of  the  "Adjutant,"  as  his  neighbors  used  to  call  Corporal  John 
Piper.  Though  not  a  native  of  Wolfeborough,  Mr.  Piper  has 
spent  nearly  all  his  active  life  here  and  has  done  as  much  as  any 
man  of  his  generation  to  forward  the  interests  of  the  town. 

He  was  born  in  Lee,  N.  H.,  May  22,  1849,  and  first  came  to 
Wolfeborough  in  1866  to  attend  the  old  Academy.  At  the  con- 
clusion of  his  studies  he  went  to  Boston  and  entered  the  employ 
of  a  wholesale  dry  goods  house.  His  firm  was  among  the  suf- 
ferers by  the  great  fire  of  1872,  and  he  then  entered  the  railway 
mail  service,  running  between  Boston  and  Bangor.  He  followed 
this  calling  for  something  over  four  years  and  in  the  meantime 


II4  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

had  purchased  the  clothing  business  of  Levi  T.  Haley  and  had 
taken  to  himself  a  wife.  He  married  December  10,  1874,  Ida  E., 
daughter  of  Silas  Durgin.  After  leaving  the  mail  service  Mr. 
Piper  assumed  active  control  of  the  clothing  business  he  had  pur- 
chased, and  he  is  still  associated  with  the  firm  that  succeeded  him. 

Mr.  Piper  was  postmaster  during  the  Hayes,  Garfield,  and 
Arthur  administrations,  and  in  1890  became  cashier  of  the  newly 
organized  Wolfeborough  Loan  and  Banking  Company,  which 
position  he  still  holds.  He  has  had  an  active  hand  in  politics  not 
only  of  his  town,  but  of  the  county  and  state.  He  has  not  been 
a  seeker  after  office,  although  he  has  held  the  positions  of  town 
clerk,  town  treasurer,  representative  and  councillor. 

In  recent  years  Mr.  Piper  has  operated  somewhat  extensively 
in  lumbering  and  real  estate.  He  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  S.  W. 
Clow  &  Co.,  box  manufacturers,  and  in  association  with  other 
gentlemen  controls  valuable  resort  properties  on  the  shores  of 
Lake  Winnipesaukee  and  Wentworth.  The  marked  develop- 
ment of  these  holdings  within  the  past  decade  is  due  in  no  small 
degree  to  the  liberal  and  progressive  basis  upon  which  the  owners 
have  met  the  summer  home-seeker. 

A  descendant  in  the  fourth  generation  from  the  settler,  Mr. 
Piper  has  preserved  in  his  life  and  character  the  best  traditions  of 
a  worthy  family,  of  which  he  is  today  the  most  notable  repre- 
sentative. Carroll  D.,  the  only  child,  born  May  29,  1880,  is  a 
member  of  the  junior  class  at  Harvard. 

Ebenezer  Meader  (he  and  his  associates  spelled  the  name 
Meder)  was  of  the  fourth  generation  from  the  emigrant  John, 
who  came  to  this  country  in  1650,  and  settled  near  Oyster  River. 
He  was  born  in  Durham,  and  came  to  Wolfeborough  in  1768. 
He  first  made  an  opening  on  a  lot  in  the  western  part  of  the 
town,  but  not  obtaining  a  clear  title  to  it,  lost  a  portion  of  the 
fruits  of  his  first  year's  labor.  In  1770  he  purchased  the  lot  on 
which  Thomas  Piper  had  entered  as  settler,  and  the  farm  has  ever 
since  remained  in  the  possession  of  the  family,  passing  from 


JOHN    MEADER 


~ 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  u^ 

Ebenezer  to  his  son,  Samuel ,  his  grandson,  John  L. ;  his  great- 
grandson,  Samuel  A.,  the  present  occupant. 

Mr.  Meader  took  with  him  from  Durham  a  cow  and  pig,  gifts 
from  his  father.  The  course  of  travel  from  Wolfeborough  to 
Merry  Meeting  Bay,  and  from  that  place  a  considerable  distance 
into  Rochester,  was  marked  by  blazed  trees,  portions  of  thejsol- 
dierjs  road  of  1722  having  through  disuse  grown  up  to  wood. 
Here  young  Meader  picked  his  way  with  his  brute  companions. 
It  has  been  claimed  that  these  were  the  first  domestic  animals 
brought  to  Wolfeborough.  This  may  be  true  in  relation  to  the 
pig,  but  Reuben  Libbey,  no  doubt,  drove  in  the  first  neat  and 
equine  stock. 

Meader  was  a  blacksmith,  a  trade  of  incalculable  value  to  the 
early  settlers,  when  from  large  iron  bars  were  forged  and  fashioned 
on  the  anvil  with  the  hand-hammer  every  article  of  that  metal, 
from  a  shingle-nail  to  a  plow-share.  Persons  came  a  long  dis- 
tance to  his  shop.  At  one  time,  when  the  call  for  soldiers  was 
very  urgent,  and  he  essayed  to  enlist,  the  town  hired  Enoch 
Thomas  to  go  into  the  army,  in  order  that  the  community  might 
retain  the  services  of  the  blacksmith.  He  made  the  nails  used  in 
constructing  the  house,  until  recently,  standing  on  Friend  Street. 
Pie  was  a  man  of  good  judgment,  and  held  important  positions, 
being  elected  selectman  six  times. 

Pie  had  nine  children,  three  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  His  son, 
Samuel,  had  eight  children;  his  grandson,  John  L.,  four;  and  his 
great-grandson,  Samuel  A.,  three.  These  were  all  born  on  the 
home  farm.  The  families  of  the  ancestors  of  Ebenezer  Meader 
were  quite  uniform  in  number.  The  emigrant  John,  his  great- 
grandfather, had  five  children,  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Nathaniel,  John, 
and  Nicholas ;  his  grandfather,  Nicholas,  five,  Keziah,  Samuel, 
Nicholas,  John,  and  Daniel ;  his  father,  Samuel,  five,  Timothy, 
Ebenezer,  Isaac,  Hannah,  and  Eliza. 

The  fifth  lot  was  sixty  rods  wide.  It  was  taken  by  Thomas 
Taylor,  who  came  from  Gilmanton,  and  after  residing  in  Wolfe- 


jjt,  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOU. 

borough  a  few  years,  returned  again  to  that  town.  His  son, 
Wiggins  Taylor,  was  the  first  male  child  born  in  Wolfeborough. 

Benjamin  Folsom,  who  was  born  in  New  Market  in  1740,  and 
had  removed  to  Gilmanton,  either  accompanied  Taylor  to  Wolfe- 
borough,  or  soon  followed  him.  He  was  present  at  the  charter 
election,  held  September  28,  1770,  and  was  elected  to  a  minor 
town  office.  He  was  also  elected  a  town  officer  in  1771  and  1772. 
In  1773  he  was  chosen  hog-reeve,  highway  surveyor,  and  chairman 
of  the  board  of  selectmen,  his  associates  in  the  last  office  being 
Thomas  Taylor  and  James  Conner.  Sometime  after  September 
of  that  year  he  was  killed  by  a  falling  tree,  but  whether  in  Gilman- 
ton or  Wolfeborough  is  not  known.  Being  a  carpenter  by  trade 
and  an  active  citizen,  his  death  was  accounted  a  great  loss  to  the 
town. 

When  Taylor  left  Wolfeborough,  the  farm  came  into  the  posses- 
sion of  Jonathan  Chase,  who  hailed  from  Stratham.  He  was  a 
relative  of  Dudley  Leavitt,  ''the  almanac-maker,"  and  had  served 
as  soldier  in  the  American  army.  Here  was  born,  July  28,  1784, 
his  daughter  Nancy,  who  married  William  P.  Edgerly,  and  bore 
him  six  children,  Betsy,  Jerome  B.,  Irena,  Lewis  C.,  William  P., 
and  Cyrus  F.  Mrs.  Edgerly  was  a  remarkably  industrious  and 
energetic  woman,  and  a  professing  Christian  for  ninety  years. 
She  retained  her  mental  faculties  until  late  in  life.  Her  death 
occurred  January  26,  1889,  at  the  age  of  one  hundred  and  four 
years,  five  months,  and  twenty-eight  days.  Her  daughter,  Irena, 
(Mrs.  Bradstreet  Doe),  with  whom  she  spent  the  last  years  of 
her  life,  still  resides  in  Wolfeborough,  aged  eighty-seven  years. 

Jonathan  Chase  spent  several  years  with  his  son  Thomas,  who 
settled  in  the  southwesterly  corner  of  Wolfeborough,  where  he 
cleared  a  farm  on  which  he  built  two  thousand  rods  of  good  stone- 
wall during  his  lifetime.  Mr.  Chase  finally  made  a  home  near  the 
center  of  W'olfeborough.  Dudley  Leavitt  Chase  and  his  wife, 
Mary,  January  6,  1789,  gave  to  William  Rogers  a  deed  of  the 
Chase  lot  with  the  exception  of  one  and  one-quarter  acres  previous- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


117 


ly  sold  to  Ebenezer  Meader,  the  consideration  being  one  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds,  lawful  money.  Rogers,  who  speculated  somewhat 
in  land,  probably  the  same  year  transferred  the  property  to  Jacob 
Folsom,  of  New  Market. 

Folsom  with  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Smart,  at  once  took  possession 
of  the  purchase,  and  it  has  been  retained  in  the  family  to  the 
present  time.  Mr.  Folsom  had  eight  children,  seven  of  whom 
were  born  in  Wolfeborough.  Their  names  were  Oilman,  Polly, 
Lydia,  James,  John,  George,  Henry,  and  Charles.  Polly  became 
the  wife  of  Joseph  Edmunds,  and  died  at  the  age  of  ninety-seven 
years,  the  same  age  as  was  her  mother  at  the  time  of  her  decease. 
Mrs.  Hannah  Folsom,  who  was  the  wife  of  Deacon  John,  a  son  of 
Jacob  Folsom,  had  since  died,  aged  ninety-eight  years.  It  is 
remarkable  that  there  have  been  in  some  way  connected  with  this 
farm  four  women  whose  ages  have  exceeded  ninety-seven  years. 

The  first  Folsom  (Foulsam)  came  to  this  country  near  the 
beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century.  The  early  families  gen- 
erally made  their  homes  in  Rockingham  County,  and  especially 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  town  of  Exeter.  Here  dwelt  Nathaniel 
Folsom,  who  was  quite  prominent  in  his  time,  being  a  major- 
general  and  member  of  congress. 

The  Folsom  family  has  not  produced  a  large  number  of  dis- 
tinguished persons,  but  its  members  have  been  men  and  women, 
of  piety  and  good  citizenship.  It  has  filled  churches  rather  than 
prisons.  Indeed,  it  is  a  proverb  that  a  criminal  seldom  bears  the 
name  of  Folsom.  Large  numbers  of  clergymen,  usually  of  the 
mediocre  type,  and  church  officers  have  been  found  in  its  ranks. 
Jacob  Folsom,  the  head  of  the  Wolfeborough  branch,  was  on  inti- 
mate terms  with  Elder  Benjamin  Randall,  of  New  Durham,  the 
founder  of  the  Freewill  Baptist  denomination.  His  son,  John 
Folsom,  whose  wife,  Hannah  Blake,  large  of  body  and  large  of 
soul,  was  a  model  of  zeal  in  religious  and  benevolent  work,  was 
a  deacon  in  the  Christian  church  of  Wolfeborougfh.  Blake  Fol- 


ng  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

som,  a  lifelong  resident  of  Wolfeborough,  is  the  most  prominent 
representative  of  the  family  at  the  present  time. 

He  was  born  October  25,  1824,  and  lived  on  the  home  farm 
until  twenty  years  of  age,  when  he  started  out  to  make  his  own 
way  in  the  world.  Seven  years  later  he  returned  to  his  native 
town,  opened  a  hardware  store  and  began  the  manufacture  of  tin- 
ware. This  business  he  successfully  conducted  for  thirty  years. 
Since  that  time  he  has  devoted  himself  to  the  oversight  of  his 
large  real  estate  holdings.  Mr.  Folsom  married,  December  6, 
1851,  Ruth  D.  Gerrish,  of  Rochester.  He  has  served  two  terms 
in  the  Legislature  and  was  for  eight  years  president  of  the  Lake 
National  Bank. 

The  sixth  lot,  which  was  seventy  rods  wide,  was  taken  by 
Benjamin  Blake,  who  came  from  Epping.  Being  anxious  to  be 
the  first  settler,  he  hurried  to  the  town,  and  with  the  aid  of  his 
robust  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Molly  Conner,  built  a  log 
house,  in  which  he  lived  eighteen  years.  This  iarm  has  never 
been  out  of  the  possession  of  the  Blake  family. 

Mr.  Blake  was  a  hardy  and  eccentric  man,  many  anecdotes  of 
his  peculiarities  being  still  related.  In  the  warm  season,  when 
hurried  with  work,  he  would  remain  in  his  field  continuously  for 
several  clays  and  nights,  sleeping  on  the  ground,  his  food  being 
brought  him  by  his  wife.  In  winter  mornings,  after  kindling  a 
fire,  he  would  place  his  deerskin  garments,  stiffened  with  the  cold, 
on  the  broad  hearthstone,  and  while  they  were  warming,  visit 
the  barn  and  feed  his  stock.  He  enlisted  as  a  soldier  in  the  cam- 
paign which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  Burgoyne's  army,  and 
being  discharged  in  the  interior  of  the  state  of  New  York,  walked 
barefoot  to  his  home  in  Wolfeborough  from  choice. 

There  was  some  rivalry  between  Blake  and  his  brother-in-law, 
James  Conner,  in  relation  to  their  farm  work.  One  day  near  the 
close  of  the  hay  harvest,  Conner  visited  Blake,  who  informed 
him  that  he  had  finished  mowing,  and  should  complete  his  haying 
tlie  next  nay.  Conner  still  had  grass  standing  in  his  field.  That 


BLAKE   FOLSOM 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


119 


night  he  cut  the  standing-  grass  and  put  it  in  the  barn.  Early  the 
next  day  he  visited  Blake,  and  told  him  that  he  had  "done  Hay- 
ing.'' 

Mrs.  Blake  became  distinguished  as  an  accoucheuse.  It  was 
a  common  saying  that  she  had  been  present  at  a  thousand  births. 
This  may  have  been  an  exaggeration,  but  was  probably  not  far 
from  a  truthful  statement,  as  at  that  time  most  households  had 
a  large  number  of  children.  Her  popularity  gave  her  a  large  ridd 
cf  practice,  which  she  held  for  a  long  period,  as  no  physician 
commenced  business  in  Wolfeborough  until  near  the  close  of  the 
eighteenth  century.  She  was  a  brave  and  vigorous  woman,  and 
neither  difficult  traveling  or  inclement  weather  could  deter  her 
from  heeding  duty's  call.  In  cases  of  emergency  she  would  put 
on  her  snow-shoes,  and  give  her  anxious  companion  a  close  race 
over  the  drifted  roads.  In  many  cases  of  ordinary  sickness  she 
applied  simple  remedies  quite  effectively. 

Jonathan,  their  oldest  son,  became  very  prominent  in  Wolfe- 
borough  affairs,  holding  most  of  the  important  offices  within  the 
bestowal  of  its  citizens.  In  early  life  he  was  an  uncommon  ax- 
man.  While  clearing  a  portion  of  Joseph  Varney's  farm  he  was 
accustomed  to  fell  an  acre  of  trees  in  a  day.  Perhaps  in  this  case 
the  ax-blows  were  more  vigorous  than  usual,  because  just  across 
the  highway  was  the  home  of  Polly,  the  daughter  of  Andrew 
Lucas,  his  affianced  bride.  In  middle  and  advanced  life  Mr. 
Blake  was  very  dignified  in  his  manners,  and,  possessing  a  com- 
manding physique  and  voice,  was  very  popular  as  a  moderator 
of  town  meetings.  He  was  elected  to  that  office  many  times.  It 
is  said  that  his  whisper  was  sufficient  to  quiet  a  crowd  of  frolic- 
some boys  or  half-tipsy  men,  and  that  his  sonorous  "Order" 
would  produce  in  a  town  meeting  assembly  a  silence  that  was 
actually  painful.  He  died  at  an  advanced  age,  respected  as  a 
citizen  and  honored  with  much  public  office.  The  Blakes  have 
been  generally  large-sized,  a  physical  trait  which  they  inherited 
from  the  Conners.  Daniel,  a  son  of  Jonathan,  weighed  300  Ibs. 


I20  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

The  seventh  lot  was  seventy  rods  wide.  It  was  taken  by  Wil- 
liam Fullerton.  He  was  drowned  a  short  time  after  his  arrival 
in  Wolfeborough  while  crossing  Smith's  River  on  a  fallen  tree 
used  for  a  foot -bridge.  The  lot  was  given  to  his  widow,  who 
was  a  very  energetic  woman.  On  it  she  raised  eight  children,  one 
of  whom  was  born  after  the  decease  of  her  husband.  The  name, 
''Widow  Mary  Fullerton,"  was  seen  for  many  years  on  the  annual 
town  inventory.  Two  of  her  sons,  John  and  James,  were  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  John,  before  becoming  a  soldier,  took  a 
settler's  lot  in  the  western  corner  of  Wolfeborough,  as  it  was  then 
bounded.  He  raised  a  house-frame  on  it,  through  which,  while 
he  was  in  the  army,  trees  of  considerable  size  grew  up.  On  his 
return  home  he  found  his  claim  to  the  lot  forfeited  because  of 
his  non-compliance  with  the  terms  of  settlement.  He,  however, 
repossessed  it.  and  it  remained  his  home  during  a  long  life. 
James  remained  on  the  home  farm  with  his  mother.  After  her 
decease  he  obtained  possession  of  it,  and  its  ownership  has  never 
gone  out  of  the  Fullerton  family. 

William  Fullerton,  a  son  of  the  widow,  settled  on  the  Fullerton 
Pine  Hill  fifty-acre  lot.  He  subsequently  sold  it  to  a  member  of 
the  Jonathan  Hersey  family,  and  it  has  ever  since  been  in  the 
possession  of  some  person  of  that  name.  Mrs.  William  Hersey 
now  occupies  it. 

The  Widow  Fullerton's  children  were  John.  Sarah,  wife  of 
Reuben  Libbey,  Mary,  James,  W'illiam,  Betsy,  wife  of  Lemuel 
Clifford,  Samuel,  and  Jane.  Samuel  died  young.  A  number 
of  the  later  generations  of  the  Fullerton  family  have  been  resi- 
dents of  Wolfeborough.  They  have  generally  followed  the  busi- 
ness of  farming,  and  have  been  fairly  thrifty. , 


CHAPTER  X. 

OTHER  SETTLERS — JACOB  SCEGGEL — His  SON  AND  GRANDSON — 
AARON  FROST — His  ENCOUNTER  WITH  A  BEAR — GRAFTON 
NUTTER — JOHN  FLAG — JOTHAM  RINDGE — ROBERT  CALDER 
— JAMES  CONNER — ENOCH  THOMAS — ANDREW  WIGGIN — 
JONATHAN  HERSEY — JOHN  PARKER — MATTHEW  S.  PARK- 
ER— HENRY  RUST  PARKER — MOSES  AND  ICHABOD  TEBBETTS 
— GEORGE  WOODHOUSE — THOMAS  TRIGGS — JOSEPH  KENIS- 
TON — SAMUEL  HIDE — JOSEPH  LEAVITT — ABRAM  PREBBLE. 

IT  is  not  known  that  any  other  permanent  settlers  came  to 
Wolfeborough  in  1768  than  those  already  noticed.  There  was 
a  large  number  of  laborers  on  the  governor's  farm,  which  em- 
braced one-half  of  the  territory  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the 
town,  but  most  of  them  had  no  thought  of  becoming  permanent 
residents.  A  few  did,  however,  make  homes  for  themselves  in  the 
town.  In  1769  Jacob  Sceggel,  Aaron  Frost,  John  Flagg,  Grafton 
Nutter,  and  Ithiel  Clifford  became  residents  of  the  town.  Jotham 
Rindge  and  Robert  Calder,  who  were  connected  with  the  Went- 
worth  Farm,  resided  in  the  town  for  some  time,  the  former 
leaving  at  the  time  of  the  departure  of  Governor  Wentworth,  and 
the  latter  remaining  a  number  of  years  longer.  Within  a  brief 
period  the  following  persons  became  citizens :  James  Conner, 
Enoch  Thomas,  Jeremiah  Gould,  Andrew  Wiggin,  Moses  Ham, 
Jonathan  Hersey,  Matthew  S.  Parker,  Moses  Tebbetts,  Ichabod 
Tebbetts,  George  Woodhouse,  Samuel  Woodhouse,  Thomas 
Triggs,  Joseph  Keniston,  Samuel  Hide,  Joseph  Leavitt,  and 
Abram  Prebble. 

Joseph  Sceggel,  who  assisted  in  cutting  the  Pequaket  Road, 
settled  near  Trask  Mountain.  He  was  elected  one  of  the  board  of 
selectmen  at  the  organization  of  the  town  in  1770  and  re-elected 


122  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

in  1771.  His  son,  James,  and  his  grandson,  James,  Jr.,  held  the 
same  office  in  after  years.  They  had  their  homes  in  the  northerly 
corner  of  Wolfeborough,  near  Batson's  Pond,  away  from  the 
public  highway. 

Aaron  Frost,  who  was  a  shipwright,  came  from  Portsmouth. 
He  had  a  settler's  lot  of  one  hundred  acres  (two  hundred  rods 
by  eighty  rods)  of  George  Meserve,  the  deed  of  which  is  dated 
September  22,  1769.  He  located  at  what  is  now  known  as  Frost's 
Corner,  and  also  assisted  in  cutting  the  Pequaket  Road.  He  was 
a  person  of  great  strength  and  endurance,  and  became  a  notable 
hunter.  Taking  a  small  quantity  of  meal  and  salt,  his  traps,  gun, 
and  ammunition,  he  would  for  weeks  together  hunt  game  in  the 
mountains.  He  once  had  a  desperate  encounter  with  a  large  she- 
bear  just  robbed  of  her  cubs.  He  espied  her  swimming  in  Lake 
Wentworth,  and  seizing  a  wooden  lever,  met  her  before  she 
reached  the  shore.  She  seemed  in  no  ways  inclined  to  avoid  the 
combat,  and  for  a  while  "the  battle  hung  in  even  scale."  At 
length  brute  force  was  obliged  to  yield  to  human  sagacity,  and 
the  intrepid  hunter  secured  his  prize.  He  took  a  load  of  clap- 
boards on  a  hand-sled  to  Dover  and  exchanged  them  for  a  grind- 
stone, which  he  brought  home  himself,  performing  the  journey 
of  seventy  miles  in  two  days.  His  family  of  children,  which  was 
quite  large,  settled  near  him.  Few  of  this  name  now  reside  in 
Wolfeborough. 

Grafton  Nutter  was  one  of  the  three  persons  who  assisted  in 
cutting  the  Pequaket  Road.  He  settled  on  the  hill  where  after- 
wards dwelt  Alpheus  Swett,  and  where  was  located  the  town 
farm,  north  of  the  Miles  Road. 

John  Flagg,  who  was  a  man  of  property  and  influence,  came 
from  Portsmouth.  He  obtained  possession  of  four  hundred 
acres  of  land  in  the  westerly  part  of  the  town.  This  was  bounded 
by  the  Widow  Fullerton  lot.  Lake  Winnipesaukee,  the  John  Ful- 
lerton  lot,  and  the  Miles  Road.  In  1779  he  exchanged  this  land 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


123 


with  Ebenezer  Home  for  real  estate  in  Dover.  He  held  the  office 
of  town  clerk  in  1771,  and  of  town  clerk  and  selectman  in  1772. 

Ithiel  Clifford  settled  near  where  Augustine  Fullerton  now 
resides.  In  1771  he  was  elected  constable,  and  in  1772  a  surveyor 
of  highways  and  one  of  the  board  of  selectmen. 

Jotham  Rindge  was  probably  a  relative  of  Governor  Went- 
worth.  He  was  a  town  proprietor,  drawing  lot  one,  which  became 
a  part  of  the  Wentworth  Farm.  He  was  authorized  by  the  gov- 
ernor to  call  the  charter  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of 
Wolfeborough,  and  was  elected  the  first  town  clerk.  He  had  the 
general  superintendency  of  affairs  at  the  Wentworth  Farm,  and 
probably  left  Wolfeborough  at  about  the  time  of  the  governor's 
enforced  departure. 

Robert  Calder,  of  Scotch  descent,  was  the  gardener  at  the  Went- 
worth Farm.  He  had  a  house  at  Cotton  Valley,  near  the  spot 
where  stands  the  residence  of  the  late  Elder  George  C.  Cotton. 
The  door-stone  of  this  house  has  only  recently  been  removed. 
It  was  in  this  neighbrohood  that  the  governor's  park  was  prob- 
ably situated. 

Calder  remained  in  Wolfeborough  several  years  after  the  de- 
parture of  Governor  Wentworth,  and  was  a  quite  active  citizen. 
He  was  several  times  elected  selectman,  and  was  one  of  the  town 
committee  of  safety  in  1775.  He  was  of  a  jovial  turn,  had  a  faculty 
for  rhyming,  and  was  familiarly  known  as  "Bob  Calder."  He 
removed  from  Wolfeborough  to  Wakefield,  where  he  kept  store 
for  a  short  time,  and  built  a  tavern,  which  he  soon  sold.  He 
eventually  made  his  home  in  Brookfield,  living  on  the  hill  beyond 
the  Hackett  schoolhouse,  on  the  road  leading  to  the  Corner, 
formerly  termed  the  "Governor's  Road."  He  was  five  times 
elected  one  of  the  board  of  selectmen  of  that  town,  and  also 
served  as  deputy  sheriff. 

He  had  quite  a  large  family  of  children.  Three  of  his  daughters 
married  Wolfeborough  men,  Sally  becoming  the  wife  of  James 
Jenness  in  1809,  Betsy  of  Isaac  Edmunds  in  1814,  and  Mary  of 


124 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Stephen  W.  Home  in  1815.  The  last  named  was  the  mother  of 
Lorenzo  and  Charles  L.  Home. 

James  Conner  came  from  Hennjker,  and  secured  a  lot  out  of 
the  Daniel  Treadwell  right,  numbered  fourteen.  Here  he  erected 
buildings  where  now  stand  those  occupied  by  Asst.  District 
Attorney  Fred  E.  Hurd,  of  Boston.  His  son  James  settled  on 
the  Banfield  place,  and  his  son  Samuel,  on  the  Jerome  place. 
Jeremiah  made  his  home  with  his  father.  He  had  but  little  edu- 
cation, but  possessing  good  natural  ability,  served  several  years 
as  selectman,  and  occupied  other  responsible  positions.  He  was 
the  first  person  in  town  who  gave  in  his  inventory  "money  on 
hand."  At  one  time  he  kept  tavern,  and  town  meetings  were 
often  held  at  his  house.  He  built  the  first  cidermill  in  town.  A 
nephew  of  his,  Moses  Conner,  who  was  a  cripple,  was  a  popular 
teacher  of  common  schools.  He  was  a  good  penman,  and  many 
are  the  family  records  in  the  family  bibles  written  by  "Master 
Conner." 

Enoch  Thomas  settled  the  farm  situated  north  of  Main  Street 
cemetery,  now  occupied  by  George  W.  Bassett  and  John  L. 
Wiggin.  His  house  stood  in  the  present  garden  of  Mr.  Bassett. 
Thomas  was  hired  by  the  town  authorities  to  enlist  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary army,  in  order  that  they  might  retain  at  home  the  black- 
smith. Meader,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  people.  About 
1790.  Thomas  sold  the  farm  to  Isaac  Townsend,  a  Freewill  Bap- 
tist minister  who  came  from  New  Durham,  and  removed  to 
Tuftonborough  Neck  where  most  of  his  descendants  have  since 
resided.  Mr.  Townsend  soon  exchanged  the  farm  with  Samuel 
Fox  for  one  in  Pleasant  Valley.  Here  "Esquire  Fox"  dwelt 
during  his  lifetime.  John  Bassett  purchased  the  property  of  his 
heirs,  and  after  living  on  it  for  several  years,  deceased,  and  it  has 
become  the  possession  of  his  son,  George  W.  Bassett. 

Little  is  known  of  the  history  of  Jeremiah  Gould.  It  is  probable 
that  he  settled  on  the  lot  where  Lemuel  Clifford  afterwards  re- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


125 


sided,  now  the  home  of  Nathan  Shackley.  In  1780  he  was  elected 
field-driver. 

Andrew  Wiggin  came  from  New  Market  and  settled  where 
Alfred  Brown  now  resides.  He  had  little  education,  but  was  a 
man  of  probity  and  sound  judgment,  as  evinced  by  the  responsible 
positions  in  which  his  townsmen  placed  him.  He  held  few  offices 
on  account  of  lack  of  educational  attainments  ;  but  no  citizen  was 
more  respected,  and  few  had  greater  influence  in  directing  public 
affairs  than  he.  He  had  much  to  do  with  the  building  of  the  town 
meeting-house,  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  first  Con- 
gregationalist  church,  which  was  organized  in  1792,  also  one  of  its 
deacons.  He  had  several  sons,  who  settled  near  him,  Paul,  on  the 
lot  now  occupied  by  Joseph  Abbott,  and  Andrew  and  Moses  on 
the  home  farm.  Andrew  built  on  the  farm  of  Samuel  Tebbetts 
the  first  pound  in  Wolfeborough,  receiving  two  dollars  for  his 
work. 

Jonathan  Hersey,  the  son  of  James  Hersey,  and  one  of  a  family 
of  ten  children,  came  from  Newmarket.  He  had  a  settler's  claim 
of  one  hundred  acres  of  land  on  Daniel  Pierce's  "Great  Lot," 
which  contained  one  thousand  acres.  He  was  a  stirring  man,  and 
held  several  minor  offices.  He  had  a  large  family  of  children,  most 
of  whom  became  farmers  and  settled  near  him,  either  in  Wolfe- 
borough  or  Tuftonborough,  his  farm  joining  the  latter  town. 
He  speculated  considerably  in  land,  and  eventually  became  a 
large  landowner,  several  of  his  sons  following  in  his  footsteps. 
His  son  James,  who  lived  in  his  neighborhood,  although  within 
the  limits  of  Tuftonborough  left,  at  his  decease,  an  estate  ap- 
praised at  sixty  thousand  dollars. 

John  Parker,  although  retaining  his  proprietary  lot  for  a  short 
time,  and  improving  it  somewhat  through  the  agency  of  Reuben 
Libbey,  to  whom  he  gave  a  settler's  lot,  was  never  a  resident  of 
Wolfeborough,  but  during  his  lifetime  dwelt  in  Portsmouth.  He 
was  sheriff  under  the  provincial  government  of  New  Hampshire — 
first,  of  the  whole  province,  and  after  its  division  into  counties. 


I2(5  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

of  the  county  of  Rockingham.  After  the  change  from  the  pro- 
vincial to  the  state  government  occurred,  he  again  received  the 
shrievalty,  and  was  subsequently  appointed  by  Washington,  Mar- 
shall of  the  district  of  New  Hampshire.  These  positions  were 
held  by  him  during  his  life  time.  He  was  never  married,  but 
his  house  was  the  asylum  of  the  widow  and  orphan.  Nine 
nephews  and  nieces  were  educated  at  his  expense,  among  them 
being  John  Parker  Hale,  the  father  of  the  distinguished  New 
Hampshire  senator  of  that  name.  His  biographer  says  of  him : 
"He  was  a  social  companion,  an  accomplished  gentleman,  a  dis- 
interested friend."  He  was  clerk  of  the  Wolfeborough  proprietry 
for  many  years. 

Matthew  Stanley  Gibson  Parker,  the  youngest  brother  of  John, 
came  into  possession  of  the  Wolfeborough  Neck  property,  with  the 
exception  of  the  Libbey  lot.  He  erected  buildings  on  it,  and 
improved  it  as  a  farm  for  several  years,  then  sold  it  to  Johnathan 
Edmonds,  and  removed  to  the  "Mills,"  where  he  occupied  the 
Mill  house,  keeping  tavern  and  acting  as  miller. 

The  advent  of  "Esquire  Parker,"  as  he  was  called  in  accordance 
with  the  custom  of  the  olden  time  when  titles  were  highly  prized, 
was  a  godsend  to  the  people  of  Wolfeborough,  his  acquired 
abilities  far  superior  to  those  of  any  other  citizen  then  living  in 
the  town,  rendering  him  well  fitted  to  occupy  any  important 
position  which  the  requirements  of  the  town  demanded.  He  was 
well  qualified  for  legal  business,  and  for  several  years  was  the 
only  justice  of  the  peace,  an  office  then  regarded  as  quite  im- 
portant. He  was  elected  town  clerk  in  1774,  the  year  after  his 
arrival,  and  in  1778  one  of  the  board  of  selectmen.  Both  these 
offices  he  held  almost  continuously  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
very  suddenly  in  1/88,  while  on  a  visit  to  his  brother-in-law, 
Ueering  Stoddard,  who  lived  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town. 

Mr.  Parker  married  Anna,  the  daughter  of  Colonel  Henry 
Rust.  Their  children,  seven  in  number,  were :  Henry  Rust ;  Wil- 
liam Sewall,  who  kept  a  bookstore  in  Troy,  N.  Y. ;  Matthew 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


127 


Stanley,  cashier  of  Suffolk  bank,  Uoston ;  Samuel  Hale,  publisher 
of  the  Waverly  novels,  etc. ;  Nathaniel  Adams,  who  died  young ; 
John  Toppan ;  Anna,  who  married  Rev.  Jaaziniah  Crosby. 

Henry  Rust  Parker,  who,  after  his  father's  decease,  made  his 
home  with  his  grandfather,  Colonel  Henry  Rust,  and  eventually 
inherited  the  estate,  which  has  since  been  known  as  the  "Parker 
Place,"  was  a  farmer  and  merchant.  He  bore  the  reputation  of  a 
worthy  citizen,  and  held  various  town  offices.  His  family  is  now 
represented  in  the  town  by  Cnarles  Franklin  Parker,  who  is  a 
banker  and  has  held  numerous  business  and  official  positions,  and 
his  brother  John  Parker. 

Moses  and  Ichabod  Tebbetts  probably  had  no  families  or 
property  at  the  time  that  they  first  came  to  Wolfeborough.  They 
went  into  the  army  at  the  first  call  for  soldiers.  There  have  been 
many  persons  named  Tebbetts  residing  in  Wolfeborough,  es- 
pecially in  the  northeastern  part,  but  they  have  belonged  to  dif- 
ferent families. 

George  Woodhouse  had  a  home  on  which  was  four  acres  of 
cleared  land.  He  "cut"  the  College  Road  nearly  its  entire  length 
in  Wolfeborough.  He  was  elected  fence-viewer  in  1773,  and  hog- 
reeve  and  fence-viewer  in  1774. 

Thomas  Triggs  settled  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Valentine 
B.  Willey,  and  for  several  years  managed  the  mill  now  used  by 
Mr.  Willey. 

Joseph  Keniston,  Samuel  Hide,  Joseph  Leavitt,  and  Abram 
Prebble  settled  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  town.  Keniston 
occupied  the  lot  since  in  the  possession  of  Stephen  Nute  near 
Dimon's  Corner,  and  Prebble,  a  portion  of  the  Haines  farm. 


CHAPTER  XL 

LOCAL  GOVERNMENT  ESTABLISHED — THE  CHARTER — THE  AN- 
NUAL FAIR — THE  FIRST  TOWN-MEETING — -OFFICERS 
CHOSEN — TOWN-MEETING  RECORDS — EXAMPLES  OF  PHO- 
NETIC SPELLING — A  HIGHWAY  SURVEYOR'S  WARRANT — 
SPECIFIED  DUTIES  OF  TOWN  OFFICERS — FENCE-VIEWERS — 
FIELD-DRIVERS  —  POUND-KEEPERS  —  HOG-REEVES  — BENE- 
DICTS— POUNDS — THE  CONSTABLE — THE  TITHING-MAN — 
THE  DEER-KEEPER — THE  RACE-GROUND — EARLY  FAIRS — 
METHODS  OF  TRAVELING. 

WOLFEBOROUGH,  when  granted  to  the  twenty-four  town 
proprietors,  was  a  wilderness,  and  except  where  con- 
tiguous to  Lake  Winnipesaukee,  surrounded  by  dense  forests  of 
large  extent.  No  territory  adjoining  it,  except  the  town  of  New 
Durham,  had  any  inhabitants,  and  these  lived  at  a  distance  of  ten 
or  twelve  miles  ;  nor  was  there  any  road  leading  from  it  to  a  popu- 
lated district.  It  was  at  first,  therefore,  no  easy  matter  to  induce 
persons  to  settle  in  the  town.  To  those  attempting  it,  it  meant  a 
sundering  of  neighborhood  and  family  ties  and  an  at  least  tem- 
porary exile.  Only  the  more  courageous  or  indigent  were  willing 
to  brave  the  inconveniences  and  hardships  of  pioneer  life. 

When  the  governor  of  the  province  of  New  Hampshire  had  ob- 
tained possession  of  several  thousand  acres  of  land  in  Wolfe- 
borough,  however,  and,  contemplating  the  establishment  of  a 
baronial  estate,  was  engaging  in  extensive  agricultural  operations, 
and  was  being  seconded  in  his  enterprizes  by  energetic  and 
wealthy  men,  immigration  became  more  rapid.  So  encouraging 
was  the  outlook  that  the  proprietors  of  the  town  deemed  it  ad- 
visable to  apply  to  the  governor  for  a  charter,  and  Henry  Rust,  A. 

R.  Cutter,  and  John  Parker  were  appointed  a  committee  to  make 
128 


O      C3 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  i2g 

the  application.    Col.  Rust  was  absent  on  a  sea  voyage,  and  did 
not  sign  the  petition,  which  follows : — 

Province  of  New  }  To  his  Excellency  John  Wentworth,  Esquire, 

Hampshire       jCapt.   General   Governor  and   Commander  in 

Chief  in  and  over  the  Province  aforesaid,  and 

the  Honorable  his  Majesty's  Council  for  said 

Province : 

The  Humble  Petition  of  Ammi  Ruhamah  Cutter,  Physician  and 
John  Parker,  Merch  both  of  Portsmouth  in  said  Province  as  a 
Committee  of  the  Proprietors  of  Wolfeborough  in  said  Province 
shews : — 

That  there  are  in  the  Township  of  Wolfeborough  upwards  of 
Thirty  Families  settled  and  more  coming  to  settle  there,  which 
makes  an  Incorporation  necessary  to  transact  their  common 
affairs  with  ease  &  dispatch,  and  in  that  case  many  wou'd  be  in- 
duced to  settle  there,  who  would  be  backward  without  that  ad- 
vantage. 

That  the  Proprietors  aforesaid  are  desirous  of  obtaining  this  Privi- 
lege as  it  will  enable  them  to  carry  on  the  settlement  with  more 
Regularity  and  enable  them  to  carry  into  Execution  any  of 
their  Resolutions  in  which  all  are  concerned,  with  Justice  as 
well  as  with  dispatch,  and  have  therefore  chosen  your  Peti- 
tioners with  another  person  now  absent  to  apply  to  your  Ex- 
cellency &  the  Honorable  Council  for  this  purpose. 
Wherefore  they  humbly  Pray  that  the  said  Inhabitants  &  Pro- 
prietors may  be  Incorporated  with  the  usual  Franchises,  Privi- 
leges &  Emoluments :  that  they  may  be  authorized  &  Intitled 
to  use  the  Powers  with  which  other  Corporations  are  Invested, 
and  your  Petitioners  as  in  Duty  bound  shall  pray  &c. 


A.  R.  Cutter   . 

_  ,     _    .         >  Committee 

John  Parker 


Portsmouth,  July  9th   1770 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Minutes. 

9th  July  1770 

Wolfeborough  Petition   for 

Incorporation, 

Granted. 

Accepted  on  my  part,  J'W. 

Charter  to  be  prepared 

Annual  Fair  or  Mart 

1st   Tuesday  following  21st  Sept. 

To  call  1st   Town  meeting 

Mr.  Jotham  Rindge. 

1st  Meeting  21st  Sept. 

Annual  meeting 

last   Tuesday  in  M'ch. 

CHARTER. 

Province  of  New  Hampshire,  George  the  Third,  by  the  Grace 
of  God,  King  of  Great  Britain,  France  and  Ireland.  The  De- 
fender of  the  Faith,  &c. 

To  all  people  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come,  Greeting : 
Whereas  our  loyal  subjects,  inhabiting  a  tract  of  land  within  our 
said  Province  of  New  Hampshire,  known  by  the  name  of  Wolf- 
borough,  have  humbly  petitioned  and  requested  us  that  they 
be  erected  and  incorporated  into  a  township,  and  enfranchised 
with  the  same  powers  and  privileges  with  other  towns  within 
our  said  province,  and  which  they  by  law  hold  and  enjoy ;  And 
it  appearing  unto  us  to  be  conducive  to  the  general  good  of 
our  said  province,  as  well  as  to  the  said  inhabitants  in  particu- 
lar, by  maintaining  good  order,  and  encouraging  the  culture  of 
the  land,  that  the  same  should  be  done ;  Know  ye,  therefore, 
that  we,  of  our  special  grace,  certain  knowledge,  and  for  the 
encouragement  and  promotion  of  the  good  end  and  purpose 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  l^l 

aforesaid,  by  and  with  the  advice  of  our  trusty  and  well  beloved 
John  Went  worth,  Esq.,  our  Governor  and  Commander-in- 
Chief,  and  of  our  Council  for  said  Province  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, have  erected  and  ordained,  and,  by  these  presents,  for 
us,  our  heirs  and  successors,  do  will  and  ordain,  that  our  lov- 
ing subjects  residing  on  the  tract  of  land  aforesaid,  or  that  shall 
hereafter  reside  and  improve  thereon;  (the  same  being  butted 
and  bounded  as  follows : 

Beginning  at  the  northeasterly  corner  of  a  tract  of  land  called 
New  Durham,  then  running  north  forty-eight  degrees,  east  on 
the  head  or  upper  line  of  a  tract  of  land  called  Middleton,  and 
on  that  called  Salmon  Falls  town  or  East  town,  or  as  those 
head  lines  run,  joining  thereon,  and  running  so  far  as  that  a 
line  running  from  thence  six  miles  northwest,  and  then  south- 
west to  Winnipiseokee  Pond,  and  then  by  the  side  of  said 
pond  joining  thereon,  until  the  aforesaid  corner  first  mentioned 
bears  southeast ;  and  then  running  southeast  to  the  said  corner, 
which  completes  thirty-six  square  miles,  the  content  of  said 
Wolf  borough ;)  shall  be,  and  by  these  presents  are  declared 
and  ordained  to  be  a  town  corporate,  and  are  hereby  erected 
and  incorporated  into  a  body  politick  and  corporate,  to  have 
countenance  and  succession  forever,  by  the  name  of  Wolf- 
borough,  with  all  powers,  authorities,  privileges,  immunities 
and  franchises,  which  any  other  town  in  said  Province  by  law 
hold  and  enjoy ;  Always  reserving  to  us,  our  heirs  and  suc- 
cessors, the  full  power  and  right  of  dividing  said  town  when  it 
shall  appear  necessary  and  convenient  for  the  inhabitants  there- 
of ;  also,  reserving  to  us,  our  heirs  and  successors,  all  white  pine 
trees  which  are  or  shall  be  found,  growing  and  being  within 
and  upon  the  said  tract  of  land,  fit  for  the  use  of  our  royal  navy. 
The  said  inhabitants  by  these  presents  shall  have  and  enjoy  the 
liberty  and  privilege  of  holding  an  annual  Fair  or  Mart  within 
the  said  town ;  which  Fair  shall  be  held  and  kept  on  the  first 
Tuesday  following  the  twenty-first  day  of  September  annually. 


132 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Provided  nevertheless,  and  it  is  hereby  declared  that  this  charter 
and  grant  is  not  intended,  and  shall  not,  in  any  manner,  be 
construed  to  effect  the  private  property  of  the  soil  within  the 
limits  aforesaid ;  and,  as  the  several  towns  within  our  said 
province,  are,  by  the  laws  thereof  enabled  and  authorized  to 
assemble,  and,  by  the  majority  of  the  voters  present,  to  choose 
all  officers,  and  transact  such  affairs  as  in  the  said  laws  are  de- 
clared ; — We  do,  by  these  presents,  nominate  and  appoint  Mr. 
Jotham  Rinclge  to  call  the  first  meeting  of  said  inhabitants,  to 
be  held  within  the  said  town,  on  the  28th  of  September  inst., 
giving  legal  notice  of  the  time  and  design  of  holding  such  meet- 
ing; after  which  the  annual  meeting  of  said  town  shall  be  held 
therein  for  the  choice  of  said  officers,  and  the  purposes  afore- 
said, on  the  last  Tuesday  of  March  annually. 

In  testimony  whereof,  we  have  caused  the  seal  of  our  said 
Province  to  be  hereunto  affixed. 

Witness,  our  truly  and  well  beloved  John  Wentworth,  Esquire, 
our  Governor  and  Commander-in-Chief  aforesaid,  the  twenty- 
first  day  of  August,  in  the  tenth  year  of  our  reign,  Anno 
Domino  Christi,  172.0. 

By  His  Excellency's  command,  with  advice  of  Council. 

J.  Wentworth.  [L.S.] 

Agreeably  to  the  foregoing  charter,  the  inhabitants,  being  duly 
notified,  met  on  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  September,  1770,  and 
made  choice  of  the  following  officers :  Mr.  James  Lucas,  mod- 
erator ;  Mr.  Jotham  Rindge,  town  clerk ;  Captain  Thomas  Lucas, 
John  Sinkler,  and  Jacob  Sceggel,  selectmen ;  Thomas  Taylor, 
constable ;  Benjamin  Blake,  Samuel  Tebbetts,  Aaron  Frost,  and 
Benjamin  Folsom,  surveyors. 

At  the  annual  town-meeting  held  at  John  Sinkler's  on  the 
twenty-fifth  day  of  March,  1771,  Thomas  Lucas  was  elected  mod- 
erator;  John  Flagg,  town  clerk;  Thomas  Lucas,  Jacob  Sceggel, 
and  John  Sinkler,  selectmen  ;  Ithiel  Clifford,  constable ;  Benjamin 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


133 


Folsom  and  Samuel  Tebbetts,  surveyors ;  Benjamin  Folsom  and 
Thomas  Piper,  fence-viewers ;  Benjamin  Folsom  and  Thomas 
Piper,  hog-reeves.  It  was  voted  to  build  a  pound  on  Samuel 
Tebbetts'  lot;  the  same  to  be  twenty  feet  square  and  seven  feet 
high.  This  pound  was  built  by  Andrew  Wiggin,  Jr.,  for  twelve 
shillings,  he  having  made  the  lowest  bid  for  the  contract.  Samuel 
Tebbetts  was  chosen  pound-keeper,  to  which  office  he  was  re- 
elected  for  several  successive  years. 

In  1772  the  town  officers  elected  were  Thomas  Lucas,  mod- 
erator ;  John  Flagg,  town  clerk ;  John  Flagg,  Benjamin  Folsom, 
Ithiel  Clifford,  selectmen ;  Andrew  Wiggin,  constable ;  Thomas 
Lucas,  Ithiel  Clifford,  Jacob  Sceggel,  surveyors ;  Joseph  Lary, 
Benjamin  Folsom,  James  Lucas,  Jr.,  hog-reeves ;  Thomas  Piper, 
Jacob  Sceggel,  fence-viewers. 

It  is  probable  that  some  time  during  the  year  John  Flagg  left 
Wolfeborough,  as  at  the  annual  election  in  17/3,  John  Sinkler, 
who  was  very  illiterate,  became  town  clerk ;  othenvise,  Flagg, 
who  possessed  good  business  qualifications,  would  evidently  have 
retained  the  office.  He  was  a  large  landholder,  possessing  four 
hundred  acres  in  the  westerly  part  of  the  town,  in  which  he  held 
an  interest  until  1779. 

Here  follows  a  copy  of  the  record  of  the  annual  town-meeting 
of  1773,  verbatim  et  literatim  : — 

"Province  of  New  hamsher  Count v  of  Starford. 

/V.'-tC 

At  the  aneuil  town  meting  of  the  freeholders  and  inhabetens 
of  the  town  of  Wolfeborough  met  at  John  Sinklers  the  30  Day  of 
march  1/73. 

i  Voted  thomas  Lukes  moderator  2  John  Sinkler  town  clerk  3 
Bengmon  folsom  4  thomas  tayler  5  James  Conner  Selekmen  6 
Joseph  Lary  Constable  7  thomas  Lukes  Benjamin  folsom  sevairs 
of  high  ways  8  thomas  Piper  Bengmon  folsom  hog  Reeves  9 
Bengmon  Blake  Jorge  Wooclhouse  fence  viewers  10  thomas  Piper 
Jonathan  Harsey  Dear  Keepers. 


134 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


11  Voted  to  Raise  five  Pounds  Lawfull  Money  for  a  scoole. 

12  voted  that  the  Rods  Be  Repaired  By  arate. 

13  Voted  Cornel  henery  Rust  Capt  thomas  Lukes  Commety 
men. 

14  that  the  Seleckmen  By  A  Book  to  keep  their  A  Counts  in. 

15  thomas  Piper  Culler  of  Lumber. 

1 6  Samuel  Tebbetts  Chose  Pound  Keeper. 

17  Jacob  Scegil  Chose  Juery  men." 

The  lack  of  an  education  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Sinkler  (or  Sin- 
clair, as  the  name  is  now  more  generally  written)  did  not  debar 
him  from  occupying  various  important  positions  in  town  affairs. 
During  the  following  civil  year  Matthew  Parker  became  a  citizen 
of  the  town,  and  at  the  annual  election  of  1774  was  chosen  town 
clerk. 

The  first  legal  instrument  issued  by  the  town  authorities  now 
extant  was  a  highway  surveyor's  warrant.  Here  is  a  copy  of  it : — 

"Province  of  Newhampshire  County  of  Starford. 

To  Capt.  Thomas  McLucas  one  of  the  Sevar?  of  Wolfborough 

for  the  Corant  year  Greating 

You  are  in  his  Majesty's  (name)  Required  to  Lavy  and  Coleck 
of  the  Inhabitance  and  Estats  as  they  are  Set  Down  in  this  List  of 
Rats  Delivered  to  you  the  total  to  the  amount  of  sd  Inhabitanes 
and  Estats  in  Labor  at  Two  Shillings  Pr.  Day  which  you  are  to 
lay  out  on  the  Main  Road  from  Tuftinborough  Line  to  Birch 
Camp  So  Coled  and  if  any  of  said  Inhabitans  Shall  Neglect  or 
Refuse  to  Pay  the  above  Sum  or  Sums  Given  to  you  in  sd  List 
you  are  to  Distraint  on  the  Goods  Chatels  or  Estats  and  them 
safely  Ceap  the  Spase  of  four  Days  at  the  charge  of  the  owner  or 
owners  of  sd  Goods  and  Chatels  and  if  sd  owner  or  owners  Shall 
Not  Pay  sd  sum  or  sums  within  said  Fore  Days  you  are  to  expose 
and  sell  at  Publick  Venclue,  to  pay  sd  sum  or  sums  with  Incidental 
Charges  as  the  Law  Directs,  and  Return  the  over  Plush  money  if 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


135 


any  there  be  ameadtly  to  the  owner  or  owners.  Dated  at  Wolf- 
borough  this  2  Day  of  September  1773  and  in  the  I3th  year  of  His 
Majesty's  Reign. 

Benj.  Folsom,      } 

Thomas  Taylor,   >  Selectment." 

James  Connor,      ) 

The  above  examples  of  illiteracy  are  not  inserted  as  a  reproach 
on  the  early  settlers  of  Wolfeborough ;  nor  is  it  to  be  presumed 
that  the  lack  of  education  rendered  them  deficient  in  mental 
caliber.  Among  them  were  to  be  found  persons  of  sound  judg- 
ment and  business  tact  that  would  put  to  the  blush  some  tutored 
smatterers  of  the  present  day.  Learning  is  good,  but  wisdom  is 
better. 

Certain  officers, — such  as  fence-viewers,  field-drivers,  pound- 
keepers,  and  hog-reeves — were  of  more  relative  importance  with 
the  early  inhabitants  of  the  town  than  they  are  now.  Domestic 
animals — such  as  horses,  neat  cattle,  sheep,  swine,  and  geese — 
were  allowed  to  run  at  large  in  the  highway,  and  careful  viligance 
was  necessary  to  protect  the  growing  crops. 

When  the  services  of  the  fence-viewer  were  demanded,  it  was 
his  province  to  examine  and  determine  if  fences,  whether  lining 
the  highway  or  dividing  estates,  were,  either  as  to  height  or 
strength,  in  such  a  condition  as  the  statutory  laws  required.  If 
thereafter  any  person  whose  fences  had  received  official  approval 
should  find  domestic  animals  of  the  kinds  already  referred  to 
within  his  enclosures,  he  could  direct  the  field-driver  to  take  such 
animals  to  the  pound  and  commit  them  to  the  custody  of  the 
pound-keeper,  there  to  remain  under  certain  rules  until  their 
owner  should  settle  the  fee  of  impoundage  and  adjust  the  matter 
of  damages  with  the  person  impounding. 

Swine  running  at  large  were  required  to  be  yoked  and  rung. 
The  yoke  was  made  of  wood,  and  so  adjusted  to  the  neck  of  the 
animal  as  to  prevent  it  passing  through  holes  in  the  fences.  It 


136 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


was  rung  in  the  following  manner :  a  wire  was  thrust  through  the 
cartilage  of  the  snout,  and  the  ends  twisted  together.  This  pre- 
vented rooting. 

In  after  years,  when  swine  were  not  allowed  to  run  at  large,  and 
hog-reeves  were  not  necessary  officers,  it  became  the  practice  to 
elect  to  the  office  every  man  who  had  been  married  within  the 
year,  and  at  each  annual  town-meeting  a  row  of  amorous  bene- 
dicts were  paraded  before  the  moderator  to  receive  the  oath  of 
office.  This  election  occurring  near  the  close  of  the  balloting,  had 
a  tendency  to  lessen  the  asperities  that  might  have  arisen  in  the 
heated  conflicts  preceding  it,  the  accompanying  pleasant  badinage 
producing  mutual  good  humor. 

Since  the  settlement  of  Wolfeborough  there  have  been  four 
pounds  built  in  the  town.  The  first  was  constructed  of  logs,  on 
land  belonging  to  Samuel  Tebbetts,  in  1771.  It  was  twenty  feet 
square  and  seven  feet  high.  In  1799  a  pound  thirty  feet  square 
was  built  on  the  town  meeting-house  lot.  It  was  constructed  of 
stone  with  a  cap  timber  one  foot  square.  Joseph  Piper  built  it  for 
fourteen  dollars.  In  1814  two  pounds  were  built.  One  was  on 
the  heath  portion  of  the  mill  lot,  nearly  opposite  the  Harmony 
Grove  Creamery.  The  land  for  this  was  deeded  t®  the  town  by 
William  and  Joseph  Kent  and  Cutter  £  Sewall,  who  were  at  that 
time  proprietors  of  the  mill  property,  the  consideration  being 
eight  dollars.  This  lot  was  forty  feet  square  and  situated  on  the 
easterly  side  of  the  road.  The  pound  was  thirty  feet  square,  and 
was  surrounded  by  stone  walls  three  feet  thick  at  the  bottom 
and  two  feet  thick  at  the  top.  These  walls  were  faced  on  the  in- 
side, also  on  the  outside  next  the  street,  and  were  capped  with  a 
timber  one  foot  in  diameter.  The  pound  had  a  door  with  a  sub- 
stantial lock,  and  was  built  by  Paul  H.  Varney  for  twenty-five 
dollars.  It  does  not  now  exist,  the  walls  having  been  removed. 
A  pine  tree,  which  stood  within  it,  has  also  disappeared,  the 
stump  only  remaining.  A  similar  pound  was  built  the  same 
year  on  land  purchased  of  Dudley  Hardy  and  Richard  Bickford 


7  ' 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


137 


for  four  dollars.  It  was  thirty-six  feet  square,  and  was  built  by 
Mark  Wiggin  for  twenty-four  dollars.  This  pound  still  stands. 

The  constable  ranked  next  to  the  selectman  as  a  town  officer. 
As  the  executive  of  the  statue  law,  his  services  were  then  relative- 
ly in  greater  requisition  than  now.  By  virtue  of  his  office  he  was 
collector  of  taxes. 

Previous  to  the  incorporation  of  the  town  the  roads  in  Wolfe- 
borough  were  opened  and  constructed  by  the  town  proprietors 
at  their  own  expense.  After  that,  the  care  of  them  devolved  upon 
the  inhabitants.  All  roads  required  frequent  repairing,  and  there 
were  frequent  demands  for  the  opening  of  new  ones :  hence  the 
duties  of  the  highway  surveyors  were  onerous  and  exacting,  as 
they  were  not  only  to  collect  and  apply  the  labor  taxes,  but  in 
some  instances  to  lay  out  new  roads.  Perhaps  this  latter  duty 
was  not  to  be  performed,  except  when  it  had  been  imposed  by  a 
vole  of  the  town. 

The  tithing-man  was  the  holder  of  an  office  transmitted  by  the 
Puritans.  It  was  his  duty  to  preserve  order  in  religious  meetings 
and  secure  a  proper  observance  of  the  Sabbath.  It  was  an  office 
little  needed  in  Wolfeborough,  as  the  early  settlers  had  very  few 
religious  meetings,  and  the  inducements  to  sporting  were  certainly 
not  many.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  their  early  training  would 
deter  them  from  performing  unnecessary  labor  on  the  Sabbath. 
However,  sober  and  discreet  citizens  were  elected  to  the  office, 
and  it  is  presumed  that  the  inhabitants  generally  deported  them- 
selves as  became  an  orderly  and  quiet  population. 

The  official  duties  of  the  deer-keeper  are  not  known.  Perhaps 
it  was  his  business  to  prevent  such  a  wasteful  slaughter  of  the  ani- 
mal as  would  hinder  its  propagation,  and  thereby  lessen  the  sup- 
ply of  game  food. 

It  seems  that  jurors  were  elective  officers,  Jacob  Sceggel  being 
elected  in  1773,  and  re-elected  in  1774;  Reuben  Libbey,  in  1775  ; 
Isaiah  Home,  in  1781. 

In  the  charter  of  Wolfeborough  provision  was  made  for  hold- 


138 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


ing  a  fair,  which  was  to  be  "kept  on  the  first  Tuesday  following 
the  twenty-first  day  of  September,  annually."  There  is  no  manu- 
script evidence  that  such  a  fair  was  ever  held,  but  tradition  says 
there  was.  Its  headquarters  were  at  Sinkler's  two-roomed  tavern, 
and  its  race-ground  was  that  portion  of  the  Miles  Road  that 
fronted  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Benjamin  Webster.  It  is 
not  improbable  that  previous  to  1776  there  were  some  public 
gatherings  at  this  place,  but  they  were  necessarily  small.  After 
that  period  institutions  established  under  the  patronage  of  officers 
of  the  British  government  would  not  be  in  high  favor,  nor  could 
the  people  afford  much  time  or  money  for  recreation. 

Probably  as  early  as  1772  the  College  and  Pequaket  Roads 
could  be  used  as  horse-paths,  and  those  persons  residing  in  Con- 
way,  Sandwich,  Moultonborough,  and  Tuftonborongh  could  reach 
Wolfeborough  without  much  difficulty.  There  were  no  roads 
leading  south  to  the  more  thickly  settled  towns  except  the  one 
from  the  Wentworth  Farm  through  Middleton.  The  inhabitants 
of  New  Durham  and  vicinity  would  be  compelled  to  depend  on 
the  forest  paths  marked  by  blazed  trees.  Gilmanton  people  could 
cross  Lake  Winnipesaukee  in  boats.  The  amusements  were 
horse  and  foot  races,  wrestling,  pitching  quoits,  dancing,  playing 
cards,  and  to  a  small  extent,  exchanging  equines.  The  gather- 
ings, though  small,  were  said  to  be  spirited. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE  REVOLUTION — UNCERTAINTY  PREVAILS  IN  1775 — CENSUS  OP 
1773  AND  1775 — AMMUNITION  PURCHASED — THE  TOWN 
ACTS — MOSES  HAM  APPOINTED  AGENT — EARLY  ENLIST- 
MENTS— ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  TRAIN-BAND — MEAGER 
RECORDS — MONEY  AND  LABOR  GIVEN — DIFFERENCE  AS  TO 
TOWN  QUOTA  OF  MEN — TOWN-MEETING  TO  PROVIDE  SOL- 
DIERS— Two  MEN  ENLIST — BURGOYNE'S  RAID — GENERAL 
WHIPPLE'S  LETTER — How  THE  SOLDIERS  WERE  FITTED  OUT 
— No  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  CONSCRIPTS — EXEMPTS — TOWN 

DECLINES  TO  SEND  DELEGATE  TO   PROVINCIAL   CONGRESS. 

AT  no  period  in  the  early  history  of  Wolfeborough  had  the 
town  so  encouraging  an  outlook  as  in  1774.  Only  six  years 
had  elapsed  since  it  was  a  wilderness  without  a  single  inhabitant. 
Now  there  were  probably  within  its  borders  thirty  families,  which, 
although  generally  poor,  were  successfully  clearing  land  and  rais- 
ing crops.  More  than  this,  Governor  Wentworth,  the  leading 
patron  of  industries  and  education,  had  engaged  in  an  enter- 
prise within  its  limits  that  bid  fair  to  make  it  eventually  the  sec- 
ond town  in  the  province.  His  operations  had  thus  far  been 
highly  conducive  to  its  interests,  as  he  had  furnished  employ- 
ment for  surplus  labor,  paying  remunerative  wages  in  cash,  which 
was  greatly  needed  by  the  indigent  settlers. 

Notwithstanding  there  was  much  disquiet  in  the  provinces  gen- 
erally on  account  of  the  attempts  of  the  British  ministry  to  en- 
force unrepresented  taxation,  yet,  as  the  relations  between  the 
King  of  England  and  Governor  Wentworth  were  very  friendly, 
and  those  existing  between  the  governor  and  people  of  New 
Hampshire  were  equally  so,  there  was  comparatively  little  ap- 
prehension of  fatal  disturbances.  Business  moved  on  in  its  ac- 
customed channels.  Probably  more  was  accomplished  on  the 

139 


140 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Wentworth  Farm  during  this  than  in  any  preceding  year.  If  the 
governor  feared  no  great  impending  evil,  the  people,  of  course, 
would  not  be  greatly  alarmed. 

Thus  closed  the  year  1/74,  to  the  people  of  Wolfeborough  not 
one  of  fearful  bodings  in  relation  to  the  future,  but  of  high  ex- 
pectations of  a  rapid  development  of  its  resources  and  an  increase  of 
its  population  ;  men  of  wealth  and  position  having  begun  to  regard 
it  as  a  place  favorable  for  investment  and  residence. 

The  year  1775  was  ushered  in  with  no  signs  of  compromise. 
The  English  government  abated  nothing  of  its  claims ;  the  pro- 
vincials were  defiant;  force,  the  despot's  argument,  was  threat- 
ened ;  armed  redcoats  appeared  on  provincial  soil ;  the  breach  con- 
tinually widened.  Still  there  were  those  who  hoped  and  believed 
that  there  would  be  a  peaceful  solution  to  the  difficulty,  and 
among  these  was  Governor  Wentworth.  As  soon  as  the  traveling 
would  permit,  he  visited  his  Wolfeborough  farm  to  make  prepara- 
tions for  the  coming  season.  On  the  nineteenth  day  of  April  the 
Battle  of  Lexington  was  fought.  The  bloody  conflict  aroused 
the  whole  country.  When  the  report  reached  the  governor,  he 
immediately  set  out  with  a  single  companion  for  Portsmouth  to 
counsel  peace  and,  if  possible,  prevent  disorder.  The  history  of 
the  rapidly  occurring  events  that  followed  has  already  been  nar- 
rated. 

Neither  manuscript  nor  tradition  furnishes  a  clew  to  the  position 
which  individual  citizens  assumed  when  Governor  Wrentworth 
left  the  town,  or  when  the  political  attitude  of  New  Hampshire 
was  undergoing  a  change.  That  he  left  personal  friends  is  not 
to  be  questioned,  and  that  he  could  no  longer  carry  forward  the 
enterprise  which  promised  so  much  for  the  future  prosperity  of 
the  town,  was  no  doubt  universally  regretted.  If  some  persons 
were  dissatisfied  with  the  turn  public  affairs  were  taking,  it  is 
probable  that  there  were  no  outward  manifestations  of  disap- 
proval. A  majority  of  the  people  favored  democratic  ideas,  and 
the  town  officers  were  enabled  to  maintain  generallv  the  authority 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  l^l 

of  the  charter  government,  although  in  a  few  instances  taxes 
voted  could  not  be  collected.  The  exigencies  of  the  period  de- 
manded the  general  co-operation  of  the  citizens  of  the  town,  and 
so  far  as  is  now  known,  it  was  in,  a  good  measure  secured. 

Before  giving  a  narration  of  events  that  were  transpiring,  it 
seems  proper  to  consider  the  condition  of  the  town  as  to  men 
and  means  to  meet  the  responsibilities  approaching.  In  1773  a 
census  of  New  Hampshire  was  taken  by  order  of  the  governor. 
Here  is  a  copy  of  the  order : — 

Portsmouth,  Oct.  i5th,  1773. 

Sir — I  am  to  request  an  exact  list  of  the  number  of  inhabitants 

in  the  town  of distinguished  into  different   Ranks  or 

Classes  according  to  the  Schedule  below, — which  I  shall  be  glad 
to  have  returned  to  me  authenticated  as  soon  as  possible. 

John  Wentworth. 

Here  is  the  return  from  Wolfeborough  agreeably  to  the  form  : — 

Unmarried  men  from  16  to  60 16 

Married  men  from  16  to  60 25 

Boys  16  years  and  under 49 

Men  60  years  and  upwards 2 

Females  unmarried 43 

Females   married 25 

Widows    5 


Total    165 

August  25,  1775,  Matthew  Thornton,  President  of  the  colony 
of  New  Hampshire,  issued  an  order  to  the  selectmen  of  towns  to 
take  an  account  of  the  inhabitants  thereof,  classed  as  follows : 
Males  between  16  and  50  years  of  age  not  in  the  army ;  males  un- 
der 16  years  of  age ;  males  above  50 ;  all  females ;  negroes  and 
slaves  for  life  ;  also  to  ascertain  the  number  of  firearms  fit  for  use  ; 


142 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


also  the  number  wanting  to  complete  one  for  every  person  capable 
of  using  it ;  the  quantity  of  powder  on  hand,  both  public  and 
private  property ;  and  to  caution  persons  against  wasting  it  on 
shooting  birds,  etc. 

Here  is  the  response  made  to  the  above  order  so  far  as  relates 
to  the  town  of  Wolfeborough,  as  certified  by  Henry  Rust  and 
Moses  Ham,  selectmen  : — 

Pupulation,  including  every  soul 211 

Males  between  16  and  50  years  of  age  not  in  the 

army 53 

Males  under  16  years  of  age 57 

Males  over  50  years  of  age 4 

Men  in  the  army 4 

Females  91 

Negroes  and  slaves 2 

Number  of  arms 34 

Number  of  arms  wanting 22 

Number  of  pounds  of  public  powder 25 

Number  of  pounds  of  private  powder 5 

Here  is  a  portion  of  the  account  as  taken  by  the  selectmen.  A 
more  important  portion  is  lost. 


*•<     £> 
O\   ^ 


c^ 


Henry   Rust 3 

Thomas   Lucas i 

Capt.    Sinkler I 

James  Conner I 

James   Lucas i 

Saml.  Tebbetts,  Jr. . .    i 


en 

I 
I 

I 
I 
I 


lib. 

ilb. 

i  1-2  lb. 


18 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


143 


c\ 

PS,      c_; 

SL       3 

^        ^ 

< 

^          **                     TJ 

"2       n              o 

O              3 

3 
Cu 

<*D             rz~* 
C/5               O 

^         55 
<-"         ?r 

yi               W                             CL 

*£ 

Z            ON 

o          ° 
.              ^ 

-                             "^ 

•D 
3 

CTQ 

Mr  Glen  

i 

I 

-> 

I  gun. 

o 

i  pistol 

Mr.  Trierers  .  . 

2 

I 

2 

I  gun. 

Mr  Nutter  

I 

2 

I  gun. 

Mr  Frost  

I 

7 

7 

o 

i  gun. 

Mr    Prebble  

I 

J 

7 

O 
O 

o 

Mr   Lary  

I 

O 

.7 

7 

Mr  Keniston  

I 

O 

I 

Mr  Wingate  

C 

7 

"\  eruns. 

Mr   Kennett  

I 

I 

O 

I 

O   O 

George  Woodhouse 

.     I 

2 

9 

Samuel  Woodhouse 

.     I 

i  gun. 

Mr  Haid  

I 

7 

7 

Widow  Folsom.  .  .  . 

O 

I 

J 

9 

John  Voung  

I 

I  gfun. 

Caret  Byron  

I 

O 

Robert  Calder  

I 

2 

7 

I  gun. 

/ 

O 

i  pistol. 

James  Lucas  .  . 

Gone  in 

the  army. 

*/ 

20 

19 

53 

ii  guns. 

3  pistols. 

Here  follows  an  invoice  of  each  person's  poll  and  ratable  estate 
in  Wolfeborough,  May  7,  1774.  Polls  of  eighteen  years  and  above 
were  rated  at  eighteen  shillings  each ;  horses  and  oxen  four  years 
old  at  three  shillings ;  cows  at  two  shillings ;  three  years  old  cattle 
at  one  shilling  and  six  pence ;  two  years  cattle  at  one  shilling. 
Improved  land  was  rated  at  six  pence  an  acre.  When  a  person 
was  between  the  age  of  eighteen  and  twenty-one  years,  his  poll 
was  reckoned  with  that  of  his  parent ;  and  when  the  father  was 
aged,  and  was  not  assessed  for  property,  his  poll  was  frequently 
computed  with  that  of  his  son.  An  invoice  follows : 


144 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Rate  value  Rate  value 

Name.                       Polls.  of  stock.  of  land. 

Henry  Rust 2  10  shillings.         15  shillings. 

Thomas  Lucas 2  4                          13 

James  Conner 14  10 

James  Lucas 2  8                            4 

James  Lucas,  Jr i  6                          n 

John  Sinkler I  10                           13 

Samuel  Tebbetts 12  4 

Thomas  Piper 2  2 

Andrew  Lucas I  21-2" 

Samuel  Tebbetts,  Jr i  4  2 

Joseph  Lary   2  4                           2 

Enoch  Thomas i 

Ebenezer  Header i  2                            6 

Benjamin  Blake i  8                           4 

Mary  Fullerton 2  4 

John  Fullerton i  2 

Jeremiah  Gould i 

Andrew  Wiggin i  6         "                  6         " 

Jonathan  Hersey i  2                           2 

Moses  Ham 16  8         " 

Zachariah  Bunker i 

Matthew  S.  Parker i  8         "                121-2" 

Reuben  Libbey i  12                           12 

Moses  Tebbetts i 

Ichabod  Tebbetts i 

George  Woodhouse i  2                           2 

Samuel  Woodhouse i 

Thomas  Triggs I  2                            4 

Grafton  Nutter I 

Jonathan  Lary i  2 

Joseph  Keniston i  2 

James  Lucas i 

Aaron  Frost I  6         "                  8 

Samuel  Mellows I 

Gideon  Doe i  6                          14 

Capt.  Dudley i 

Jacob  Sceggel i  4                            2 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


Rate  value 

Rate  value 

Name. 

Polls.          of  stock. 

of  land. 

Robert  Calder  

i 

2  shillings. 

Samuel  Hide  

i 

Elijah  Buzzel  

i 

Moses  Stretton  

i 

Jacob  Joy  

4  shillings. 

Ithiel  Clifford  

i              4 

2 

Lemuel  Clifford.  .  .  . 

i 

2 

John  Liford  

i 

Joseph  Leavitt  

i 

Moses  Oilman  

i 

Richard  Furbur  

i 

Samuel  Pease  

i 

Jacob  Morrel  

i 

Michel    Byron  

i 

James  Hersev  

i 

Abram  Prebble  

i 

There  were  fifty-five  persons  assessed,  twenty-seven  of  them 
for  a  poll  only.  Twenty-three  persons  were  assessed  for  stock 
whose  ratable  value  was  $21.66.  Ten  of  these  owned  only  a  cow. 
Twenty-nine  persons  paid  taxes  on  an  aggregate  of  350  acres  of 
improved  land,  which  was  rated  in  the  whole  at  $29.16.  Ten  of 
these  possessed  only  four  acres  each.  The  ratable  valuation  of 
all  property  was  $50.76,  being  less  than  one-third  of  the  total 
ratable  valuation  of  the  town,  which,  including"  polls,  was  $215.76. 
James  Conner  was  appraised  for  $167  in  money,  and  Dr.  Cutter 
for  the  mills,  whose  ratable  value  was  $3.00,  their  yearly  income 
being  $300.  By  the  foregoing  invoice  it  is  shown  that  the  ratable 
valuation  of  poll  and  estate,  on  which  taxation  was  based,  would 
require  that  more  than  three-fourths  of  any  given  tax  should  be 
assessed  on  the  poll.  Of  course  wild  lands  were  not  to  be  taxed, 
as  they  then  had  no  appreciable  value  ;  nor  was  the  Wentworth 
Farm  taken  into  account,  as  its  disposition  had  not  been  deter- 
mined. It  was  subsequently  taxed. 


146 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


An  inventory  of  the  northeast  portion  of  the  town,  taken  by 
Robert  Calder,  June  9,  1775. 


C 
x 


Moses  Wing-ate i 

John  Lovet i 

Richard  Furbur i 

George  Woodhouse  .  . .  .  i  2         2 

John  Kennett i  i 

Aaron  Frost i  2         2         4 

Abraham  Prebble i 

Jonathan  Lary i         i         2         i 

Samuel  Mellows i  i 

James  Lucas i 

Joseph  Kennison i 

Thomas  Triggs i  2         i 

Grafton  Xutter i  2 

Robert  Calder i  2         2 

Garret  Byron   i 

Archibel  Campbell i 

Samuel  Hide  .  ,  i  i 


£o  i8s. 

i8s. 

i8s. 

£i     33. 
£1 
£i   IDS. 

1  8s. 
£i     95. 


£l 


1  8s. 
i8s 

2  I-2S. 
£l       2S. 

£i     35. 
1  8s. 

i8s. 
£i 


17         i         4       14        9       £17  16  i-2s. 

In  1773  the  sum  of  £5 — 10 — 8  was  raised  to  purchase  am- 
munition, and  deposited  with  Henry  Rust.  There  is  no  record 
to  show  by  what  method  the  money  was  obtained.  It  was  evi- 
dently intended  to  meet  any  emergency  that  might  arise,  such  as 
the  troublesome  times  seemed  to  portend.  At  a  town-meeting 
called  by  the  selectmen  through  the  agency  of  Constable  Aaron 
Frost  with  a  notice  of  only  one  day,  the  inhabitants  met,  June  6". 
1775,  and  voted  that  the  money  be  put  in  the  possession  of  Moses 
Ham.  and  that  he  be  appointed  an  agent  to  purchase  powder  and 
lead  or  bullets.  He  was  to  use  proper  expedition  in  his  journey 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


147 


to  Portsmouth,  and  receive  for  his  services  and  the  use  of  his 
horse,  while  absent,  at  the  rate  of  four  shillings  per  day.  Here 
follows  a  copy  of  his  account : — 

Twenty-two  and  5-16  pounds  powder £2 — 15 — 8 

Seventy  pounds  of  lead i —  8 — o 

Four  days'  service,  with  daily  expense  of  two 

shillings  added,  being  six  shillings  per  day.    I —  4 — o 

Truckage I — 6 

Powder  purchased i — 6 

Total £5—10—8 

The  powder  was  taken  to  Wolfeborough  on  horseback,  and  the 
lead  converted  into  bullets  by  Ham.  He  remained  the  custodian 
of  the  ammunition  until  Nov.  15,  1777,  when  it  went  into  the  pos- 
session of  the  proper  authorities  for  using  it.  The  town  stock  at 
the  time  of  delivery  was  about  twenty-five  pounds  of  powder  and 
sixty-five  pounds  of  bullets. 

August  7,  1775,  Moses  Ham  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the 
colonial  convention,  and  at  the  same  town-meeting  Moses  Win- 
gate,  Moses  Ham,  Robert  Calder,  John  Sinkler,  and  James  Con- 
ner were  chosen  a  town  committee  of  safety.  The  exigencies  of 
the  times  required  the  formation  of  such  boards  of  officers.  The 
colony  of  New  Hampshire  had  its  committee  of  safety,  as  did  the 
other  colonies,  so  also  did  a  majority  of  the  towns.  These  com- 
mittees were  generally  composed  of  the  more  active  and  patriotic 
men,  who  by  a  unity  of  counsel  and  effort  secured  the  confidence 
of  the  people,  and  were  able  to  successfully  assume  the  responsi- 
bilities of  the  government  at  the  period  of  its  transformation. 

Four  young  men  of  Wolfeborough  enlisted  in  the  army  before 
the  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill  was  fought — Jeremiah  Gould,  James 
Lucas,  Ichabod  Tebbetts,  and  Moses  Tebbetts.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  Capt.  Benjamin  Pitman's  company  in  Col.  Enoch  Poor's 
regiment.  These  men  probably  hastened  to  the  anticipated  scene 
of  conflict  at  the  first  call  to  arms,  made  immediately  succeeding 


I48  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

the  Concord  fight.  Perhaps  they  did  not  then  enlist  for  a  definite 
period.  They  were  still  in  the  army  in  the  early  autumn  of  that 
year.  Gould  and  the  two  Tebbetts  did  subsequently  enlist  and 
served  as  soldiers  for  several  years. 

July  9,  1776,  the  selectmen  of  Wolfeborough  certified  that  the 
following  persons  were  in  the  army;  viz.,  Zachariah  Bunker, 
Moses  Tebbetts,  Ichabod  Tebbetts,  William  Twombly,  Samuel 
Mellows,  Garret  Byron,  and  Archibel  Campbell. 

There  is  no  evidence  that  especial  efforts  were  made  in  Wolfe- 
borough  to  furnish  soldiers  lor  the  army  during  the  years  1775 
and  1776,  and  it  is  probable  that  its  complement  was  preserved 
by  voluntary  enlistments. 

At  the  annual  town-meeting,  held  March  26,  1776,  the  follow- 
ing letter  from  Col.  Badger  was  read  : — 

"Strafford  ss.     To  all  the  training  soldiers  in  the  town  of  Wolfe- 
borough, —  Greeting: — 

You  are  hereby  notified  and  warned  to  meet  at  the  dwelling 
house  of  John  Sinkler,  innholder  in  said  town,  on  Tuesday,  the 
twentieth  day  of  February  instant,  at  one  of  the  clock  in  the  after- 
noon, and  then  and  there  to  make  choice  of  military  officers  for 
your  town  ;  viz.,  one  captain,  two  lieutenants,  and  one  ensign, 
agreeably  to  the  order  of  Congress. 

Dated  at  Gilmanton,  Feb.  6,  1776. 

Joseph  Badger,  Colonel." 

The  notice  for  the  meeting  not  arriving  seasonably,  the  matter 
was  taken  up  at  the  annual  town-meeting.  John  Sinkler  was 
chosen  captain  ;  Andrew  Lucas,  first  lieutenant ;  Jonathan  Lary, 
second  lieutenant :  and  Reuben  Libbey,  ensign.  The  train-band 
was  subsequently  completely  organized.  Andrew  Wiggin  was  ap- 
pointed clerk  ;  Aaron  Frost,  Joseph  Leavitt,  Lemuel  Clifford,  John 
Fullerton,  sergeants  ;  Samuel  Tebbetts,  Jr.,  Samuel  Hide,  Enoch 
Thomas,  David  Piper,  corporals  ;  Jonathan  Hersey,  drummer  ;  and 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


149 


John  Lucas,  fifer.  The  privates  consisted  of  Richard  Rust,  Henry 
Rust,  Jr.,  James  Connor,  James  Lucas,  Jr.,  William  Lucas,  James 
Lucas,  3rd,  Samuel  Tebbetts,  Edmund  Tebbetts,  Ichabod  Tebbetts, 
Joseph  Lary,  Ebenezer  Header,  Benjamin  Blake,  James  Fullerton, 
William  Fullerton,  John  Piper,  James  Wiggin,  Jeremiah  Gould, 
Ichabod  Ham,  Grafton  Nutter,  George  Glynn,  Matthew  S.  Parker, 
Joseph  Keniston,  Moses  Wingate,  William  Rogers,  John  Wadleigh. 
Of  these  Edmund  Tebbetts,  William  Fullerton,  John  Piper,  James 
Wiggin,  and  Ichabod  Ham  were  under  eighteen  years  of  age. 
These,  with  six  other  persons  then  in  the  army,  constituted  the 
militia  company  of  Wolfeborough,  which  consisted  of  four  com- 
missioned officers,  eight  non-commissioned  officers, two  musicians, 
and  thirty-one  privates,  making  forty-five  in  all. 

The  Revolutionary  War  records  of  Wolfeborough  are  quite 
defective,  and  it  is  somewhat  difficult  to  determine  when  certain 
events  occurred,  and  by  what  organized  agency  they  were  brought 
about.  The  committee  of  safety,  the  militia  company,  the  various 
committees  chosen  by  the  town,  as  well  as  the  selectmen  and  citi- 
zens generally,  took  an  interest  in  military  matters.  All  persons 
who  were  disposed  to  aid  the  town  in  its  struggle  to  meet  obliga- 
tions were  allowed  to  do  so  with  little  regard  for  red  tape.  Not 
only  were  men  required  to  act  as  soldiers,  but  means  were  needed 
to  supply  the  necessities  of  those  who  enlisted  and  to  raise  crops 
for  the  sustenance  of  their  families  left  at  home. 

At  some  time  during  this  year  contributions  of  money  and 
labor  were  made  by  sundry  persons,  for  which  advancements  they 
were  to  be  re-imbursed  by  abatements  on  their  taxes  in  1777- 
They  were  as  follows :  Henry  Rust,  Matthew  S.  Parker,  James 
Connor,  Capt.  Thomas  Lucas,  Lieut.  Andrew  Lucas,  John  Lucas, 
James  Lucas,  3rd,  Jonathan  Hersey.  Moses  \Vingate,  Robert 
Cakler,  Capt.  John  Sinkler,  Ensign  Reuben  Libber,  Moses  Ham, 
one  dollar  each  ;  Thomas  Piper,  a  half-dollar ;  Samuel  Tebbetts, 
Grafton  Xutter,  Ithiel  Clifford,  Lemuel  Clifford,  Edmund  Teb- 
betts, Henry  Rust,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Blake.  Robert  Estes,  Aaron 


t-0  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

Frost,  Joseph  Lary,  Enoch  Thomas,  one  day's  work  each  at  a  half- 
dollar  per  day  ;  Jeremiah  Gould,  three  days'  work  at  the  same 
price ;  James  Wiggin,  Ichabod  Ham,  David  Blake,  and  John 
Sinkler,  Jr.,  each  a  day's  work  at  one-third  of  a  dollar  a  day,  to  be 
placed  to  the  credit  of  their  respective  fathers ;  Nehemiah  Lucas, 
one  pound  of  tobacco,  twelve  and  a  half  cents. 

In  1776  there  was  a  considerable  decrease  in  the  number  of 
ratable  polls  in  Wolfeborough  on  account  of  the  departure  of 
employees  on  the  Wentworth  Farm,  their  services  being  no 
longer  required  by  reason  of  changed  circumstances.  This  led  to 
some  difference  between  the  state  authorities  and  those  of  the 
town  in  regard  to  the  number  of  men  required  to  fill  the  quota  of 
three  years  soldiers  for  the  continental  service,  the  former  basing 
their  claim  as  to  the  number  of  ratable  polls  in  Wolfeborough  on 
the  report  of  the  selectmen  made  in  1775,  and  the  latter  theirs  on 
the  number  still  remaining  in  town. 

In  July  Matthew  S.  Parker,  having  been  appointed  an  agent  by 
the  town,  visited  the  committee  of  safety  at  Exeter  for  the  purpose 
of  adjusting  the  matter.  The  cost  of  the  visit  to  the  town  was  four 
pounds  and  one  shilling,  being  Parker's  wages  for  four  and  one- 
half  days  at  eight  shillings  per  day  for  himself  and  horse  and  his 
daily  expenses  as  thus  intemized : — "breakfast,  one  shilling ;  din- 
ner, two  shillings ;  one  bowl  of  grog,  two  shillings  ;  supper,  one 
shilling;  lodging,  six  pence  ;  oats  thrice,  one  shilling;  horse  keep- 
ing, two  shillings  and  six  pence.''  Persons  transacting  public  busi- 
ness were  at  that  time  expected  to  manifest  a  courteous  respect 
for  each  other  by  drinking  together  or  treating  with  the  social 
glass.  The  matter  of  controversy  appears  to  have  been  amicably 
settled  by  Parker  and  the  committee  of  safety. 

The  following  letter  addressed  to  Hon.  John  Wentworth,  chair- 
man of  the  state  committee  of  safety,  is  self-explanatory. 

"Wolfeborough,  January  19,  1777. 
Sir  : — There  having  a   vote  passed  in  the   Honorable  Council 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  I$i 

and  Assembly,  for  each  town  to  make  up  there  full  quota  of  men 
for  the  three  years'  service  in  the  Continental  Army,  occasions  my 
troubling  you  with  this  line  to  ask  your  advice  in  relation  to  what 
can  be  done  respecting  that  affair  with  this  town ;  the  particulars 
of  which  (as  I  informed  you  last  July  at  Exeter,  when  I  was  sent 
down  by  the  town  on  the  same  business)  are  these:  In  the  year 
1775  there  were  orders  issued  by  the  General  Court  for  the  num- 
ber of  all  souls,  at  which  time  there  were  ten  or  twelve  more  ratable 
polls  than  there  are  at  present — there  being  now  only  forty-four. 
Now,  the  proportion  for  this  town,  I  imagine,  was  made  by  the 
return  given  in  that  year,  which  occasions  the  call  for  soldiers 
from  this  town  to  be  two  or  three  more  than  its  proportion  (which 
I  understand  to  be  every  eighth  man,  agreeably  to  a  vote  of  the 
Assembly),  the  inhabitants  having  depreciated  instead  of  increas- 
ing. Now,  if  you  recollect,  I  related  these  particulars  to  you,  like- 
wise shew  you  the  necessary  certificate  to  prove  the  same,  when 
I  saw  you  at  Exeter.  I  endeavored  to  lay  the  affair  before  the 
Honorable  Committee  of  Safety,  then  sitting,  but  the  multiplicity 
of  business  then  before  your  Honors  prevented  me.  I  think  you 
told  me  you  mentioned  it  before  the  committee  adjourned,  and  it 
was  concluded  that  the  town  might  make  itself  easy  if  it  had  sent 
its  proportion  according  to  the  present  number  of  its  inhabitants. 
The  present  order  is  for  the  muster  master  to  hire  all  delinquent 
men,  and  charge  the  respective  towns  with  the  cost.  Now,  if  you 
can  help  us  in  the  affair,  that  we  may  (as  is  most  just)  shun  that 
difficulty,  I  shall  take  it  as  a  particular  kindness  done  to 

Your  most  Obedient  and  very  Humble  Servant, 

Matthew  S.  Parker. 
John  \Yentworth,  Esq. 

On  the  eighteenth  day  of  April,  1777,  a  town-meeting  was 
called  to  adopt  measures  for  meeting  the  demand  of  the  general 
court  for  soldiers  for  the  continental  service,  and  also  to  attend 


152 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


to  other  matters.  The  town  chose  Matthew  S.  Parker  and  Joseph 
Lary  a  committee  to  hire  soldiers,  and  instructed  it  to  hire  two, 
only,  notwithstanding  the  call  was  for  a  larger .  number.  The 
committee  was  further  instructed,  in  case  the  claim  for  a  larger 
number  of  men  was  pressed,  to  visit  the  general  court  and  show 
that  the  town  had  complied  with  a  just  requisition  for  soldiers. 
This  committee  subsequently  secured  the  enlistment  of  Ichabod 
Tebbetts  and  David  Piper  for  a  term  of  three  years,  paying  Teb- 
betts  one  hundred  and  ten  dollars  and  Piper  one  hundred  dollars. 

Here  is  a  copy  of  the  agreement  made  by  Tebbetts  in  relation  to 
serving  as  soldier : — 

"June  20,  1777. 

Received  of  James  Conner,  Joseph  Lary,  and  Matthew  S. 
Parker,  committee  for  hiring  soldiers  for  the  town  of  Wolfe- 
borough  for  the  continental  army,  a  note  of  hand  for  thirty-three 
pounds,  lawful  money,  which,  when  paid  will  be  in  full  for  so  much 
hire  money  given  by  said  town  as  encouragement  for  their  service 
in  the  continental  army  for  the  space  of  three  years. 

Ichabod  Tebbetts" 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted  that  the  committee  to  hire 
soldiers,  increased  by  Capt.  Thomas  Lucas,  Moses  Wingate, 
Jonathan  Lary,  and  Reuben  Libbey,  should  constitute  the  com- 
mittee to  regulate  prices,  and  should  also  be,  for  the  coming  year, 
the  town  committee  of  safety. 

On  account  of  the  distressed  condition  of  the  country  at  this 
period  monopolists  were  demanding  exorbitant  prices  for  the 
necessaries  of  life.  To  correct  this  abuse,  the  legislature  of  New 
Hampshire  enacted  a  law  regulating  the  prices  of  various  com- 
modities. Here  arc  the  maximum  prices  of  the  best  qualities  of 
the  following  articles,  as  established  by  that  law : — 

Wheat,  $1.25  per  bushel ;  rye,  $.67  ;  com,  $.58  ;  oats,  $.33  ;  peas, 
81.33;  beans,  $1.00;  potatoes,  $.22  to  $.33:  cheese,  $.08  per  Ib. ; 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


153 


butter,  $.14;  pork,  $.06  1-2  to  $.07  1-2  ;  beef,  $.04  1-2  ;  tried  tallow, 
$.10;  sole  leather,  $.25;  upper  leather,  in  fair  proportion;  men's 
neat  leather  shoes,  $1.33  a  pair;  West  India  rum,  $1.11  to  $1.28 
per  gal.,  according  to  quantity  ;  New  England  rum,  $.64  to  $.75  ; 
molasses,  $.56  to  $.67  ;  cotton,  $.50  to  $.60  per  Ib. ;  flax,  $.17  :  wool, 
$.36;  men's  yarn  stockings — very  long,  $1.00  a  pair;  i  yd.  wide 
striped  flannel,  $.58  per  yd. ;  tow  cloth,  $.37,  linen,  and  cotton  and 
linen,  $.60 ;  bar  iron,  $6.67  a  cwt.  An  increase  of  price  was  added 
for  every  ten  miles  of  inland  transportation.  A  bushel  of  salt  at 
Wolfeborough  would  bring  the  price  of  four  bushels  of  corn,  or 
four  days'  labor.  The  same  regulating  law  fixed  the  price  of  farm 
laborers  at  $.56  per  day,  other  laborers  receiving  wages  varying 
according  to  the  customary  usage. 

In  the  autumn  of  1777  the  British  general,  Burgoyne,  was  suc- 
cessfully raiding  portions  of  our  northern  territory,  and  the  gov- 
ernment determined  to  make  a  strong  effort  to  check  his  progress 
and  overthrow  his  army.  An  urgent  call  was  made  for  volunteers 
for  the  campaign.  Here  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Brigadier- 
General  William  Whipple  to  Colonel  Joseph  Badger  in  relation  to 
the  matter : — 

"Portsmouth,  23  Sept.,  1777. 

Sir:- — I  am  desired  by  the  House  of  Assembly  to  reccommend  in  the 
strongest  manner  to  the  militia  of  this  state  that,  as  many  of  them  as 
can  possibly  leave  home,  do  immediately  equip  themselves  in  the  best 
manner  possible,  and  march  to  the  re-enforcement  of  the  northern  army, 
and  put  themselves  under  the  officers  commanding  there.  You  will 
please  inform  the  officers  and  men.  that  they  will  be  allowed  the  same 
pay,  rations,  and  other  encouragements,  as  are  received  by  the  other  offi- 
cers and  soldiers  of  this  state.  By  one  bold  exertion  we  may  be  amply 
revenged  for  the  execrable  abuses  that  have  been  exercised  by  our  merci- 
less foes,  restore  to  some  degree  of  happiness  a  great  number  of  our 
northern  brethren,  who  have  been  recently  forced  from  their  peaceful 
habitations,  and  put  it  out  of  the  power  of  our  more  than  savage  enemy 
to  evermore  show  their  faces  in  that  part  of  the  country. 

I  do,  therefore,  most  ernestly  urge  you  to  exert  every  faculty  to 
stimulate  the  militia  under  your  command  to  march  without  the  least 
delay  to  the  assistance  of  their  brethren  now  in  the  field,  and  share 


154 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


with  them  the  glory  of  vanquishing  the  most  barbarous   enemy  that 
ever  pretended  to  civilization. 

I  am  your  Humble  Servant, 

W.  Whipple,  Brig.  Gen'l." 

Col.  Badger  immediately  transmitted  the  above  letter  to  the 
selectmen  of  \\~olfeborough  with  the  following  endorsement  on 
the  back  of  it : — 

"Gentlemen : — 

You'll  see  by  the  within  recommendation  of  the  Court  I  must 
entreat  you  to  exert  every  nerve,  as  this  seems  to  be  the  critical 
moment.  Send  forward  all  the  men  you  can  get  to  be  at  my  house 
by  Tuesday  next  if  possible.  When  the  men  are  met  the  officers 
shall  be  appointed  as  they  may  agree. 

I  am.  Gentlemen,  Your  Humble  Servant, 
Joseph  Badger,  Colonel. 

Under  this  call  the  following  persons  immediately  enlisted  for 
three  months:  John  Sinkler,  John  Lucas,  William  Lucas,  Ben- 
jamin Blake,  Andrew  \Viggin,  Moses  Ham.  After  the  capture  of 
Burgoyne's  army  these  recruits  received  their  discharge  in  north- 
ern New  York,  and  Blake  gave  an  exhibition  of  his  hardihood  by 
walking  barefoot  to  his  home  in  Wolfeborough,  although  the 
ground  for  a  part  of  the  distance  was  covered  with  snow,  and  he 
was  carrying  in  his  knapsack  a  pair  of  new  shoes. 

In  1776  or  early  in  1777  there  was  a  call  for  a  three  years'  soldier 
from  Wolfeborough.  There  was  an  apparent  reluctance  on  the  part 
of  the  inhabitants  to  enlist,  and  Ebenezer  Meader  offered  his  ser- 
vices. The  town  authorities,  unwilling  to  deprive  the  people  of  so 
necessary  an  artisan,  hired  Enoch  Thomas  for  fifty  dollars  to  take 
his  place,  and  the  blacksmith  remained  at  home.  Thomas  was  poor, 
and  his  neighbors  offered  to  assist  him  in  procuring  an  outfit  forthe 
army.  One  incident  is  worth v  of  mention.  An  enthusiastic 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


155 


helper  whose  only  pair  of  trousers  was  sadly  worn,  and  who  was 
anticipating  the  speedy  possession  of  a  new  pair  that  was  being 
prepared  for  him,  in  his  patriotic  zeal,  addressing  his  spouse, 
cried  out,  "Wife,  put  some  more  patches  on  the  old  trousers. 
Thomas  must  have  the  new  ones."  On  his  return  from 
the  army,  after  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment,  Thomas 
claimed  more  hire  money,  as  other  men  who  enlisted  afterwards 
icceived  a  larger  compensation.  Some  controversy  with  the  town 
authorities  followed,  but  the  matter  was  finally  satisfactorily  ad- 
justed. 

The  early  calls  for  soldiers  carried  into  the  army  as  many  men 
as  volunteers  as  the  country  could  conveniently  spare,  and  when, 
as  years  went  on,  the  conflict  became  more  bloody  and  hazardous, 
patriotism,  self  interest,  and  pecuniary  consideration  helped  to  fill 
the  ranks,  though  at  great  sacrifice  and  cost. 

In  1777  James  Lucas,  Thomas  Lucas,  and  Ithiel  Clifford,  be- 
ing more  than  fifty  years  old,  were  exempted  from  performing 
military  service  ;  so  also  was  Thomas  Piper,  he  being  the  miller. 

The  following  list  of  persons  received  an  abatement  of  a  portion 
of  their  taxes  of  1777  on  account  of  having  served  as  soldiers  in 
the  army  agreeably  to  a  vote  of  the  town.  The  first  column  gives 
the  name  of  the  soldier  serving  in  the  army ;  the  second,  the  num- 
ber of  months  that  he  served  ;  the  third,  the  amount  of  his  tax 
abatement. 

Ichabod  Tebbetts   17  8  shillings   10  pence. 

David  Piper   17  8  10       " 

John  Piper 14  7  9       " 

Jeremiah  Gould 9  6  9       " 

Jonathan  Lary   5  2  9 

William  Rogers 5  2  "           9       " 

John  Fullerton    5  2  9       " 

John  Sinkler   3  i  "           8 

William  Lucas 3  i  8 

John  Lucas   3  i  8 


156 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Benjamin  Blake  3         i  shilling       8  pence 

Andrew  Wig-gin  3         I  8       " 

Moses  Ham 3         I  8       " 

These  abatements  were  in  accordance  with  a  special  vote  of  the 
town  in  1777  and  not  by  reason  of  any  general  rule. 

A  call  was  issued  in  1778  for  a  convention  of  delegates  from  the 
several  towns  in  New  Hampshire  to  meet  in  Concord  on  the  tenth 
day  of  June  to  form  some  suitable  plan  for  the  future  government 
of  the  state.  The  citizens  of  Wolfeborough  took  the  matter  into 
consideration  at  the  annual  March  meeting,  and  thus  voted :  "It 
is  not  the  mind  of  the  town  to  send  a  delegate  for  the  purpose 
aforesaid,  presuming  that  the  expenses  there  will  be  greater  than 
the  present  circumstances  of  the  town  will  afford,  or  even  any 
advantages  that  are  likely  to  arise  from  such  a  choice."  This 
action  was  by  no  means  unpatriotic  or  indicative  of  indifference 
to  the  general  welfare  of  the  state ;  but,  as  the  expenses  of  the 
delegate  were  to  be  paid  by  the  town,  it  seems  to  have  resulted 
from  prudent  forecast,  or,  more  probably,  from  stern  necessity  as 
the  following  incident  would  indicate. 

There  was  a  call  from  the  state  for  another  soldier,  and  John 
Sinkler  and  Andrew  Lucas,  the  agents  for  the  town,  hired  Nathan 
Watson,  paying  him  a  bounty  of  twenty  dollars  and  furnishing 
him  with  a  gun,  a  blanket,  and  a  knapsack.  These  articles  were 
borrowed  on  the  credit  of  the  town  of  the  following  persons :  the 
gun,  value  sixteen  dollars,  of  Robert  Calder ;  the  blanket,  value 
four  dollars,  of  Ebenezer  Meader ;  and  the  knapsack,  value  one 
dollar,  of  James  Lucas,  3rd.  The  town  eventually  paid  for  the 
several  articles.  The  bounty  money  was  furnished  by  Moses  Win- 
gate,  and  \vas  subsequently  allowed  on  the  state  farm  taxes  by  his 
order. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE  REVOLUTION — REUBEN  LIBBEY  GOES  TO  WAR  INSTEAD  OF  A 
SUBSTITUTE — His  HAY-CROP  HARVESTED  BY  A  LABOR  TAX 
—JAMES  FULLERTON  AND  JAMES  LIHBEY  ENLIST — WIGGIN 

HONORABLY  DISCHARGED OTHER     ENLISTMENTS  —  NEW 

HAMPSHIRE  FURNISHES  THE  ARMY  RUM  AND  BEEF — PRO- 
GRESS OF  THE  CONFLICT — BOUNTIES  VAINLY  OFFERED — 
STATE  SUPPLIES  TOWN'S  QUOTA — FULL  LIST  OF  SOL- 
DIERS— THEIR  SERVICE — OFFICERS — FATAL  CASUALTIES — 
TOWN'S  WAR  DEBT — FARMS  ATTACHED  FOR  STATE  TAX — 
DEBT  FINALLY  WIPED  OUT — PROSPECT  FOR  THE  FUTURE. 

EARLY  in  the  summer  of  1779  Reuben  Libbey  agreed  to 
furnish  a  soldier  for  a  six  months'  campaign  in  the  Rhode 
Island  expedition.  Not  being  able  to  obtain  one,  he  himself  en- 
listed. He  was  to  receive  for  bounty  and  travel  forty-six  pounds 
and  sixteen  shillings,  and  have  his  hay-crop  harvested.  A  labor 
tax  was  assessed  according  to  the  following  list  of  "person's 
names,  and  the  number  of  day's  work  each  person  was  to  do, 
agreeably  to  a  vote  of  the  town  towards  getting  in  the  hay  grow- 
ing on  Ensign  Libbey's  farm  to  be  done  according  to  the  direc- 
tion of  Jonathan  Home,  and  the  surplus  labor,  if  any,  to  be 
worked  out  on  the  highway." 

Col.  Henry  Rust,  3  3-4  days  labor ;  James  Conner.  2  1-4  ;  Capt. 
Thomas  Lucas,  2  1-4;  William  Lucas,  3-4;  Capt.  John  Sinkler, 
i  3-4:  Benjamin  Evans,  2  1-4:  Thomas  Piper,  i  1-4;  Moses  Var- 
ney.  3-4;  James  Lucas  3rd,  i  ;  Doct.  Cutter,  2  1-2;  Grafton  Nut- 
ter, 3-4:  Andrew  Folsom,  3-4;  the  estate  in  the  care  of  Moses 
Wingate,  18  1-4:  Moses  Wingate,  3-4;  Joseph  Leavitt,  r  ;  Robert 
Calder,  13-4;  John  Kennett,  3-4;  Aaron  Frost,  13-4;  Abram 
Prebble,  3-4 ;  Lieut.  Jonathan  Lary,  2 ;  Joseph  Keniston,  3-4 ; 

157 


158 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Samuel  Tebbetts,  Jr.,  i  ;  Benjamin  Durgin,  i ; Goldsmith, 

i  ;  Lieut.  Ebenezer  Home,  6 ;  Ebenezer  Home,  Jr.,  3-4 ;  Isaiah 
Home,  3-4;  Jonathan  Home,  3-4;  Andrew  Wig-gin,  23-4;  Jona- 
than Hersey,  13-4;  Ithiel  Clifford,  11-2;  Lemuel  Clifford,  i; 
Widow  Mary  Fullerton,  234;  John  Fullerton,  i  1-2;  Jeremiah 
Gould,  3-4;  Benjamin  Blake,  2  1-2;  Isaac  Williams,  3-4;  Robert 
Estes,  11-2;  Ebenezer  Meader,  2;  Joseph  Lary,  3;  Samuel  Teb- 
betts, Sr.,  2  1-4;  James  Lucas,  Jr.,  3-4;  Lieut.  Andrew  Lucas, 
21-4;  John  Lucas,  3-4;  William  Rogers,  i;  Henry  Rust,  3-4; 
Richard  Rust,  3-4;  Matthew  Stanley  Parker,  31-4;  Benjamin 
Wiggin,  3-4 ;  amounting  in  the  whole  to  93  1-4  days  work. 

Each  person  was  to  furnish  his  provisions  and  tools,  and  work 
in  such  gangs  as  should  be  arranged  under  the  direction  of  Mr. 
Home.  The  labor  was  to  be  properly  expended  in  "cutting, 
making,  and  housing"  the  hay  on  Libbey's  farm,  which  was  situ- 
ated at  the  most  distant  point  of  Wolfeborough  Neck.  For  the 
money  to  which  Libbey  was  entitled  the  town  was  directly  re- 
sponsible, although  the  claim  was  ultimately  against  the  state. 
The  following  petition,  written  more  than  eight  years  after  Libbey 
served  in  the  army,  will  explain  somewhat  the  long  delay  in  ad- 
justing his  claim : — 

"State  of  New  Hampshire, 

To  the  Honorable  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  con- 
vened at  Portsmouth: Feb.  ist  day,  1786. 

The  petition  of  Reuben  Libbey  of  Wolfborough  in  said  state, 
Humbly  shews: —  that  your  petitioner  sometime  in  the  month 
of  July,  in  the  year  1779,  engaged  as  a  soldier  in  Col.  Mooney's 
regiment,  being  mustered  by  Col.  Badger,  and  went  to  Provi- 
dence, joined  Capt.  Emerson's  company,  and  served  until  Sept. 
10,  17/9,  and  was  then  discharged. — And  your  petitioner  hath 
never  received  a  penny  for  his  time  or  travel,  and  was  not  made 
up  in  an}'  army  company  or  upon  any  roll  in  the  regiment. — 
Wherefore  your  petitioner  begs  that  he  may  receive  the  same  in 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


159 


every  shape  as  the  rest  of  the  regiment,  for  the  time  he  was  in 
the  service ;  and  your  petitioner  begs  that  he  may  have  some  in- 
terest for  his  money. 

Your  petition,  as  in  duty  bound,  shall  ever  pray ; 

Reuben  Libbey." 

It  is  presumed  that  Libbey  eventually  was  allowed  his  claim,  as 
it  was  subsequently  connected  with  a  large  claim  for  taxes  of  con- 
fiscated lands  that  Wolfeborough  preferred  against  the  state  of 
New  Hampshire.  These  lands  were  lots  nine,  twenty,  and  twenty- 
one,  which  had  been  held  by  George  Meserve,  and  the  Wentworth 
Farm.  The  amount  due  from  the  state  to  the  town  for  unpaid 
taxes  was  £386 — 45 — g<\.  This  sum,  however,  included  Libbey 's 
bill. 

In  the  year  1779  Daniel  Bridges,  who  was  not  a  citizen  of 
Wolfeborough,  was  mustered  into  the  service  by  Col.  Badger  as 
a  Wolfeborough  soldier — a  three  years  man.  He  was  to  receive 
a  continental  bounty  of  £60  and  a  state  bounty  of  £90,  the  real 
value  of  which  is  not  know.  At  a  town-meeting  held  Sept.  7, 
1779,  the  citizens  of  Wolfeborough  voted  unanimously  not  to  ac- 
cept the  plan  of  government  formed  at  the  convention  held  at 
Concord  the  preceding  June. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  militia  of  the  town  held  June  29,  1780,  a 
majority  of  the  legal  voters  being  present,  it  was  agreed  to  pay 
James  Wiggin  thirty  bushels  of  corn  and  James  Fullerton  fifteen 
bushels  of  corn  and  twenty  days  work  in  consideration  of  their 
engaging  to  serve  as  soldiers  in  the  continental  armv  for  six 
months.  The  proceedings  were  not  strictly  legal,  but  the  de- 
mand for  the  soldiers  was  so  urgent  and  the  opportunity  for  se- 
curing them  so  feasible  that  there  was  no  demurring  on  the  part 
of  any  of  the  citizens,  and  the  selectmen  immediately  guaranteed 
the  payment  of  the  bounties  to  the  recruits  by  giving  their  notes 
for  the  payment  thereof,  according  to  the  terms  of  agreement. 


!bO  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

The  work,  which  was  estimated  at  three  shillings  a  day,  was 
to  be  done  in  the  approaching  hay  season,  and  the  corn,  which 
was  estimated  at  four  shillings  per  bushel,  was  to  be  delivered  by 
the  twenty-fifth  day  of  the  following  December.  A  tax  to  meet 
these  obligations  was  immediately  assessed.  Wiggin,  who  was 
nineteen,  preferred  his  bounty  in  corn,  which  was  one  of  the  cur- 
rency articles  of  the  day,  while  Fullerton,  who  was  twenty-four 
years  old,  had  conjointly  with  his  mother  the  care  of  the  farm, 
and  must  unavoidably  have  remained  at  home,  had  he  not  made 
provision  for  labor  in  the  hay  season  then  close  at  hand. 

The  labor  tax  was  imposed  upon  those  citizens  of  the  town  who 
were  near-by  dwellers,  with  their  consent.  They  were  Benjamin 
Wiggin,  1-2  day  ;  Benjamin  Blake,  2  1-4  days  ;  Jonathan  Hersey, 
i  1-4  days;  Ithiel  Clifford,  i  1-2  days;  Lemuel  Clifford,  3-4  day; 
Widow  Mary  Fullerton,  on  whose  farm  th  ?  labor  was  to  be  done, 
i  1-2  days;  Jeremiah  Gould,  1-2  day;  Robert  Estes,  i  1-4  days; 
Joseph  Lary,  2  days;  Samuel  Tebbetts,  Sr.,  21-4  days;  Lieut. 
Andrew  Lucas,  2  1-4  days;  Ensign  Reuben  Libbey,  2  1-2  days; 
John  Fullerton,  i  day;  Ebenezer  Home,  21-2  days.  Total  20 
days 

Fullerton  and  Wiggin  were  mustered  into  the  3rd  New  Hamp- 
shiie  regiment,  at  Kingston,  X.  H.,  July  8,  1780.  Wiggin  appears 
to  have  received  his  discharge  at  a  considerable  distance  from 
home,  as  shown  by  the  following  papers : — 

"Camp  Soldier's  Fortune,  Dec.  9,   1780. 

James  Wiggin,  soldier  in  the  3rd  Xew  Hampshire  Regiment, 
inhabitant  of  the  state  of  Xcw  Hampshire,  is  hereby  discharged, 
and  permitted  to  return  to  the  above  state. 

James  Wait,  Maj.  3rd   X.  H." 

"To  whom  it  may  concern. — All  issuing  commissaries  are 
desired  to  supply  the  within  named  James  Wiggin  with  his  pro- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  jgj 

visions  on  his  way  to  New  Hampshire,  none  to  be  delivered 
after  the  iqth  inst. 

James  Wait,  Major  3rd  N.  H. 

Issued  two  days  rations. — Thomas  Pratt,  A.  C.  S. 
Wolfeborough  man  for  6  mos." 

A  call  for  beef  under  a  new  method  of  furnishing  supplies  for 
the  army,  a  communication  from  President  Weare. 

"To  the  selectmen  of  Wolfborough:  As  all  other  ways  of 
supplying  the  army  are  laid  aside,  but  that  of  each  state  to  pro- 
vide such  as  their  lands  produce ;  and  beef  being  one  of  the  articles 
assigned  to  this  state  you  will  see  the  absolute  neccesity  of  punc- 
tually complying  with  this  act ;  and  having  your  quota  ready  at 
the  several  times  alloted,  when  the  Collector  General,  viz: 
Eliphalet  Giddings,  or  some  other  person  will  call  on  you  for  the 
same. 

M.  Weare,  President. 

June  27,  1780,  the  New  Hampshire  legislature  had  passed  an 
act  in  acquiescence  with  an  enactment  of  the  congress  of  the 
United  States  of  February  25  of  the  same  year  requiring  the  state 
to  furnish  11,200  cwt.  of  beef  in  monthly  instalments.  The 
amount  assigned  to  Wolfeborough  was  3,875  pounds.  The  town 
was  to  be  allowed  five  and  a  half  dollars  per  cwt.  provided  there 
were  no  outstanding  taxes  against  them.  If  there  were,  they  were 
to  be  first  deducted. 

A  town-meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Piper  at  the 
"Mills"  on  the  seventh  day  of  September  to  consider  the  matter. 
At  this  meeting  Lieut.  Ebenezer  Home,  Capt.  John  Sinkler,  and 
Joseph  Lary  were  appointed  a  committee  to  purchase  the  beef. 
According  to  the  committee's  account,  beef  was  purchased  as 
follows :  one  yoke  of  oxen  of  Ebenezer  Home,  for  seven  thou- 
sand five  hundred  dollars ;  one  yoke  of  Robert  Estes,  for  seven 


jfe  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

thousand  dollars ;  one  yoke  of  Andrew  Lucas,  for  about  three 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  Money  had  become  greatly  de- 
preciated in  value,  and  the  prices  paid  for  the  cattle  determines 
only  their  comparative  value.  Those  purchased  of  Home  and 
Estes  were  probably  quite  large.  They  were  evidently  not  raised 
in  Wolfeborough,  as  neither  of  the  men  came  into  the  town  until 
about  1779.  November  n,  1782,  the  town  paid  James  Lucas 
thirty-seven  dollars  for  a  beef  ox  and  Benjamin  Evans  eighteen 
dollars  for  a  beef  steer.  These  cattle  were  delivered  in  1781,  and 
were  a  part  of  the  town's  allotment  for  the  state's  supply  of  beef 
for  that  year.  Lucas  and  Evans  received  their  pay  in  silver 
money. 

The  depreciation  of  the  value  of  the  currency  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  was  a  source  of  great  perplexity  and  loss  both  to  in- 
dividuals and  communities.  After  congress  had  recognized  the 
troops  at  Boston  as  a  continental  army  in  1775,  it  became  neces- 
sary to  provide  money  for  its  support.  Sufficient  specie  could  not 
be  obtained,  and  bills  of  credit  were  issued.  As  more  money  was 
needed,  new  emissions  of  these  followed  ;  and  as  congress  was 
unable  to  redeem  them  with  specie,  they  began  to  depreciate.  At 
the  close  of  1780,  when  the  last  emmission  was  made,  they  had 
become  almost  worthless,  and  finally  became  wholly  so.  This 
was  the  money  in  which  the  soldiers  of  the  Revolution  were  paid, 
and  this  was  the  principal  reason  assigned  for  subsequently  grant- 
ing them  pensions. 

The  value  of  one  hundred  dollars  in  specie  was  equal  at  dif- 
ferent periods  to  the  value  represented  in  the  following  table  in 
currency : — 

1777  1778  1779  1780           1781 

In  January                     ...$105  325  742  2934         7400 

February    107  350  868  3322         75oo 

March    109  375  1000  3736 

April    112  400  1 104  4000 

"   May    115  400  1215  4600 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  ^3 

1777          1778          1779  1780  1781 

In  June 120         400         1342         6400 

"  July    125  425  1477  69°° 

"  August    150  450  1630  7000 

"  September   175  475  1800  7100 

'  October    275  500  2030  7200 

'   November    300  545  2308  7300 

"  December    310  634  2593  7400 

On  the  twenty-sixth  of  February,  1781,  the  selectmen  of  Wolfe- 
borough  issued  a  very  urgent  call  for  a  town-meeting  to  be  held 
on  the  first  day  of  March  for  the  purpose  of  determining  "upon 
some  proper  method  for  procuring  the  town's  quota  of  the  con- 
tinental army,  which,  by  an  act  of  the  state,  appears  to  be  five,  in- 
cluding those  already  in  the  service."  The  meeting  was  held  and 
organized,  and  after  a  discussion  of  the  matter  which  it  was  called 
to  consider,  adjourned  to  the  fifteenth  day  of  the  month. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  it  was  decided  to  choose  a  committee 
of  three  to  endeavor  to  hire  men  to  fill  the  required  quota.  Lieut. 
Jonathan  Lary,  Mr.  Ebenezer  Meader,  and  Ensign  Reuben  Lib- 
bey  were  selected  for  the  committee.  They  were  instructed  "to 
hire  four  men  for  a  three  years'  service  on  the  best  possible  terms, 
and  report  their  doings  at  the  annual  town-meeting  which  was  to 
be  held  on  the  27th  day  of  the  same  month."  At  that  meeting  the 
action  of  the  special  town  meeting  was  endorsed,  and  the  com- 
mittee for  hiring  soldiers  continued.  Some  disturbing  matters 
coming  up,  the  annual  meeting  was  adjourned  to  April  3.  At 
the  adjourned  annual  meeting  James  Conner,  Andrew  Wiggin, 
and  James  Lucas  were  chosen  instead  of  the  former  committee 
to  hire  soldiers,  and  the  meeting  was  then  adjourned  to  the  tenth 
da\'  of  April.  At  that  adjournment  the  ordinary  town  business 
was  transacted.  There  is  no  evidence  that  either  of  the  commit- 
tees chosen  to  hire  soldiers  secured  any  ;  it  is  probable  they  did 
not. 


!64  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

On  the  twenty-seventh  day  of  July  of  the  same  year,  a  town- 
meeting  was  held  for  the  purpose  of  adopting  some  plan  to  hire 
two  soldiers  for  three  months  in  obedience  to  a  call  from  the  gov- 
ernment. The  action  of  the  town  is  thus  recorded  :  "After  spend- 
ing much  time  in  the  business  specified  in  the  warrant,  and  find- 
ing that  the  soldiers  could  not  be  procured  by  any  means,  the 
meeting  was  thereupon  dissolved." 

In  July,  1781,  Col.  Bradbury  Richardson,  of  Moultonborough, 
sent  the  following  communication  to  the  militia  company  of 
Wolfeborough : — 

"To  the  company  of  Militia  contained  within  the  Train  Band, 
so  called  within  the  town  of  Wolfborough  : 

Whereas  by  an  act  of  the  legislature  of  the  state  the  regiment 
commanded  by  the  late  Col.  Badger  has  been  divided,  and  you 
now  belong  to  the  nineteenth  regiment,  a  new  appointment  ot 
officers  is  necessary. 

You  are  therefore  hereby  notified  and  warned  to  meet  at  the 
house  of  James  Conner  innholder  in  Wolfeborough  on  Tuesday, 
the  7th  day  of  August  next,  at  One  O'clock  P.  M.  on  said  day  to 
elect  one  captain,  two  lieutenants,  and  one  ensign  to  command 
said  company.  At  which  tfme  and  place  one  of  the  field  officers 
will  attend  to  act  as  moderator,  and  deliver  the  commissions  to 
the  persons  that  shall  be  legally  chosen  to  the  several  offices. 

B.  Richardson,  Col." 

The  company  met  agreeably  to  appointment,  and  the  following 
officers  were  chosen :  Joseph  Lary,  captain ;  William  Lucas,  first 
lieutenant ;  Aaron  Frost,  second  lieutenant ;  and  Enoch  Thomas, 
ensign. 

The  following  call  was  soon  made  on  Captain  Lary : — 

"Moultonborough,  Sept.  i,  1781. 

Sir: — Pursuant  to  orders  received  from  Brigadier  General  Bad- 
ger, you  are  hereby  Required  to  raise  and  equip  three  able  bodied 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  16$ 

men  out  of  the  company  under  your  Command,  which  is  your 
proportion  of  twenty-one  men  to  be  raised  in  my  regiment,  and 
forward  to  Colonel  David  Page  of  Conway,  to  pass  muster  im- 
mediately, without  one  minute's  delay.  Said  men  are  to  be  im- 
proved as  a  Scout  in  Defense  of  the  Northern  Frontiers,  and  are 
to  Serve  three  Months  unless  sooner  discharged.  They  are  to 
receive  Three  Pounds  Bounty,  and  forty  shillings  per  month  equal 
to  that  Sum  in  Lawful  Money  in  the  year  1774,  and  are  to  be 
paid  by  the  Town.  The  Court  have  voted  that  the  Same  shall 
be  Allowed  out  of  the  present  or  next  year's  Tax  Bill.  It  is  the 
opinion  of  all  the  Field  Officers,  and  General  Badger,  that  those 
men  are  instead  of  the  Three  Months  Men  sent  for  to  join  the 
Continental  Army.  You'll  Raise  and  forward  the  Men,  and  make 
return  of  your  doings  as  soon  as  may  be  to 

Your  Servant, 
Bradbury  Richardson." 

The  town  secured  the  enlistment  of  David  Piper,  John  Piper, 
and  Jeremiah  Sinclair,  agreeing  to  pay  them  ten  silver  dollars  a 
month  for  the  time  they  were  in  the  service.  They  were  absent 
about  two  months. 

Here  is  a  copy  of  Capt.  Jacob  Smith's  order  to  David  Piper : — 

"To  Sargeant  David  Piper : — 

You  are  to  take  charge  of  the  party  of 

men  whose  names  are  herein  enclosed,  and  march  them  to  Dart- 
mouth, as  soon  as  may  be,  and,  when  there  to  be  under  the  direc- 
tion of  a  division  of  the  militia  in  that  place  till  further  orders,  ex- 
cept John  Piper  who  is  to  return  immediately  with  intelligence 
of  the  movement  in  that  quarter. 

You  are  further  required  to  take  particular  care  that  the  men 
do  not  waste  their  ammunition. 

Per  Jacob  Smith,  Captain. 
Conway,  Sept.  15,  1781." 


j66  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

List  of  men — David  Piper,  Sargeant,  Jonathan  Crosby,  Joseph 
Crosby,  Nathaniel  Cilley,  Sargearit  Kimball,  Jonathan  Hilyard, 
Joseph  Eaton,  Keniston,  Eliphalet  Sias,  William  Weeks,  John 
Piper,  and  Jeremiah  Sinclair." 

The  policy  of  congress  to  obtain  its  supplies  for  the  army  from 
those  states  producing  the  articles  wanted,  led  to  designating 
New  Hampshire  as  a  state  to  furnish  rum  in  1781.  This  article, 
though  not  a  product  of  its  soil,  was  one  of  its  trade  and  manu- 
facture. Portsmouth  dealt  largely  in  fish  and  lumber,  particu- 
larly shook,  with  the  West  Indies,  receiving  in  exchange  rum 
and  molasses.  Much  of  the  latter  article  was  distilled,  and  the 
town  became  an  important  distributing  port  for  other  maritime 
localities.  The  large  sale  of  rum  was  perhaps  a  pecuniary  benefit 
to  the  wealthy  merchants  of  Portsmouth,  but  the  money  tax  was 
burdensome  to  other  towns.  Wolfeborough  made  an  assessment 
of  thirty  dollars  to  meet  the  requisition. 

April  24,  1782,  there  was  a  town-meeting  called  to  ascertain 
what  could  be  done  towards  procuring  the  town's  quota  of  sol- 
diers. After  a  protracted  deliberation  it  was  voted  that  Ensign 
Reuben  Libbey  and  Lieut.  Jonathan  Lary  be  a  committee  to  hire 
the  soldiers  "as  cheap  as  they  can."  There  is  no  probability  that 
they  secured  any,  as  another  town-meeting  was  held  on  the 
twelveth  day  of  the  following  June,  when  it  was  voted  to  pay  a 
bounty  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  to  any  person  who  would 
enlist  as  a  soldier.  Xo  one  enlisted  so  far  as  any  record  shows. 

Until  the  latter  part  of  1781  Wolfeborough  had  met  the  re- 
quirements of  the  government  as  to  furnishing  soldiers  quite 
satisfactorily.  It  could  do  so  no  longer.  It  had  neither  the  men 
for  soldiers  nor  the  means  to  hire  them.  Without  either  money 
or  credit  it  could  only  yield  to  the  inevitable,  and  in  common  with 
some  other  newly  settled  interior  towns  suffer  the  penalties  of 
failure. 

The  following  letter  from  Sheriff  Dame  will,  in  a  measure,  ex- 
plain the  condition  of  affairs  : — 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


I67 


"Dover,  Dec.  12,  1782. 

Gentlemen : — Lest  you  should  not  have  seen  the  action  of  the 
Court  for  lengthening-  the  time  of  filling  the  quotas  of  men  for 
the  continental  battalions,  I  will  say  that  the  time  is  extended 
to  the  first  day  of  January  next.  The  delinquent  towns  are 
earnestly  requested  to  have  their  men  raised  and  mustered  im- 
mediately ;  or  to  satisfy  the  executions  against  them  respectively, 
for,  if  the  soldiers  are  not  supplied  by  towns,  the  money  will  be 
needed  to  hire  others. 

Your  most  Humble  Servant, 

Theophilus  Dame,  Sheriff. 
To  the  selectmen  of  Wolfborough." 

The  extension  of  time  was  too  short  to  be  of  any  avail  to  Wolfe- 
borough,  and  the  town  probably  made  no  further  efforts  to  en- 
list soldiers.  The  state  of  New  Hampshire  filled  its  quotas,  and 
Wolfeborough  was  forced  to  settle  the  bill,  which  it  eventually 
did. 

At  least  thirty  persons  who  served  as  soldiers  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  were  accredited  to  Wolfeborough.  Their  terms  of 
service  varied  from  two  months  to  three  years  or  more.  Some  of 
them  enlisted  in  several  campaigns.  There  names  were  Benjamin 
Blake,  Thomas  Bridges,  Zachariah  Bunker,  Garrott  Byron,  Archi- 
bald Campbell,  John  Fullerton,  Jeremiah  Gould,  James  Fuller- 
ton,  Moses  Ham,  Jonathan  Lary,  Joseph  Leavitt,  Reuben  Lib- 
bey,  James  Lucas,  3rd,  John  Lucas,  Thomas  Lucas,  William 
Lucas,  Samuel  Mellows,  David  Piper,  John  Piper,  William 
Rogers,  John  Sinkler,  Jeremiah  Sinkler,  Thomas  Sproule,  Enoch 
Thomas.  William  Twombly,  Ichabod  Tebbetts,  Moses  Tebbetts, 
Andrew  Wiggin,  James  Wiggin,  Nathan  Watson. 

John  and  James  Fullerton  were  brother? ;  so  also  were  David 
and  John  Piper.  John  and  Jeremiah  Sinkler  were  father  and 
son.  James,  John,  Thomas,  and  William  Lucas  were  relatives  ; 
so  probably  were  Moses  and  Ichabod  Tebbetts.  Thomas  Bridges, 


X68  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

John  Fullerton,  Samuel  Mellows,  David  Piper,  John  Piper,  Enoch 
Thomas,  Ichabod  Tebbetts,  Moses  Tebbetts,  and  Nathan  Watson 
were  evidently  three  years  soldiers.  It  is  probable  that  some  oth- 
ers were. 

The  following  soldiers  were  in  the  service  at  the  times  and  un- 
der the  officers  here  indicated:  June  13,  1775,  Jeremiah  Gould, 
James  Lucas,  3rd,  Ichabod  Tebbetts,  and  Moses  Tebbetts  were 
in  Captain  Benjamin  Pitman's  company  in  Col.  Enoch  Poor's 
regiment ;  Dec.  23,  1776,  Joseph  Leavitt  and  John  Fullerton  were 
mustered  into  Capt.  John  Moody 's  company  at  Exeter ;  Colonel 
Badger  reports  June  17,  1777,  that  Thomas  Sproule  is  in  Capt. 
Beal's  company,  Enoch  Thomas,  David  Piper,  and  John  Piper  in 
Capt.  Gray's  company,  and  John  Lary,  Nathan  Watson,  Richard 
Sinkler,  and  Thomas  Taylor  in  Capt.  Nathaniel  Ambrose's  com- 
pany, Col.  Welch's  regiment.  Taylor  ai*.d  Lary  both  lived  in 
Wolfeborough  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  and  were  probably 
enlisted  in  the  army  as  soldiers  of  the  town,  but  there  is  no  cer- 
tain evidence  of  it.  They  were  both  in  the  army,  and  Lary  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life  in  Wolfeborough.  Reuben  Libbey  was 
in  Col.  Hercules  Mooney's  regiment,  July  7,  1777. 

So  far  as  is  known,  few  casualties  happened  to  the  men  who 
went  from  Wolfeborough  into  the  army.  Thomas  Lucas  never 
returned.  He  might  have  died  or  wandered  into  some  other  part 
part  of  the  country.  Thomas  Bridges,  Zachariah  Bunker,  Garrott 
Byron,  Archibald  Campbell,  and  William  Twombly  were  transient 
persons,  and  did  not  make  Wolfeborough  their  future  home. 
Consequently,  little  is  known  of  their  history  after  entering  the 
army.  Nearly  all  those  persons  who  were  members  of  resident 
families  returned  to  the  town  unharmed  so  far  as  is  now  known. 
David  Piper  was  severely  ill  with  smallpox,  and  it  is  very  probable 
that  others  suffered  from  disease  or  the  various  ills  incident  to 
army  life,  but  record  and  tradition  are  alike  silent  about  the  mat- 
ter. 

One  reason  whv  men  from  Wolfeborough  and  others  similarlv 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


169 


circumstanced  suffered  less  from  camp-life  than  those  more  ten- 
derly reared  was  that  it  varied  little  from  the  life  of  a  pioneer 
settler,  coarse  food,  exposure,  and  toil  being  inseparable  from 
either.  Besides,  many  of  the  campaigns  were  short,  being  only 
from  three  to  six  months'  duration.  After  the  capture  of  Bur- 
goyne's  army  the  seat  of  war  was  removed  farther  south.  Active 
warfare  is  not  usual  in  cold  weather,  and  the  forces  in  the  camps 
and  forts  in  the  northern  part  of  the  country  were  generally  re- 
duced. It  was  not  advisable  to  feed  an  idle  army  ;  it  was  better 
that  the  soldier,  when  practicable,  should  recuperate  at  his  own 
home,  not  at  the  expense  of  the  government. 

It  was  also  the  policy  of  the  American  officers,  from  their  great 
commander  to  the  lowest  subaltern,  to  preserve  life  rather  than 
to  destroy  it.  The  English  government  purposed  a  speedy  sub- 
jugation of  the  colonies,  and  therefore  sent  into  the  country  large 
armies  at  great  expense.  In  the  matter  of  military  strength  the 
poorly  equipped  provincial  militia-men  were  at  a  disadvantage 
when  they  met  the  well  disciplined,  well  armed  veterans  of  the 
British  army.  Had  the  American  soldiers  been  rushed  into 
bloody  strife  as  were  some  of  the  armies  of  the  Rebellion  the 
country  would  have  become  exhausted  of  men,  and  the  states 
would  not  at  that  time  have  secured  their  independence.  The 
struggle  must  be  prolonged ;  crafty  delays  were  victories  to  the 
Americans,  a  protracted  war  was  their  only  hope  of  independence 
and  a  stable  government ;  the  cost  of  continuing  it  was  dishearten- 
ing to  the  English  government,  and  induced  it  to  offer  terms  of 
peace. 

The  close  of  the  war  found  Wolfeborough  very  much  impov- 
erished. No  record  of  its  finances  is  extant,  and  its  condition 
can  only  be  inferred  from  certain  desultory  accounts  of  legal  ac- 
tions. It  was  largely  indebted  to  the  state  of  New  Hampshire, 
particularly  for  deficiency  in  raising  soldiers  in  1781  and  1782. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  pecuniary  straits  of  the  town,  here  is  in- 
serted a  copy  of  a  warrant  for  town-meeting  in  1787. 


170 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


"State  of  Xew  Hamp. 

Strafford  ss. 

To  Thomas  Piper  constable  for  the  Town  of  \Yolfborou g'h  for 
the  current  year. 

Greeting : — 

You  are  hereby  directed  in  the  name  of  the  state  of  Xew  Hamp- 
shire forthwith  to  notify  and  warn  the  Freeholders  and  others 
(inhabitants)  of  the  town  of  Wolfborough  to  meet  at  the 
Dwelling  House  of  Matthew  S.  Parker  in  said  town,  on  Mon- 
day the  28th  inst.  at  2  o'clock  P.  M.  then  and  there  to  act  on 
the  following  business — viz — ist  to  choose  a  Moderator  to  regu- 
late said  meeting — to  see  what  steps  the  town  will  choose  to 
take  in  order  to  satisfy  two  Extents  levied  on  the  selectmen 
and  Collector  Lary  for  taxes  due  for  the  years  1782  &  3  which 
extents  are  to  be  settled  at  or  before  the  I2th  day  of  June  next 
— also  to  transact  any  business  which  may  then  be  tho't  neces- 
sary— Given  under  our  Hands  &  Seal  at  Wolfborough,  this 
24th  day  of  May  A.  D.  1787. 

Matthew  S.  Parker    ) 

>  Selectmen 
Kben  Meader  > 

Pursuant  to  the  within  warrant  I  have  warned  the  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Wolfeborough  to  meet  at  time  and  place  therein 
mentioned 

Thomas  Piper,  Constable. 

Wolfborough,  May  28,  1787." 

January  18,  1786,  Nathan  Hoitt,  under-sheriff,  having  previous- 
ly attached  them  by  order  of  the  state  government,  offered  for 
sale  at  public  vendue  the  farms  of  Capt.  Reuben  Libbey,  William 
Cotton,  and  James  Lucas,  selectmen  of  Wolfeborough  ;  also  those 
of  Capt.  Elias  Smith,  Lieut.  Nathaniel  Shannon,  and  Lieut.  Smith 
Moulton,  selectmen  of  Moultonborough,  for  deficiency  in  raising 
soldiers  in  1781  and  1782. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


171 


The  state  tax  of  Wolfeborough  for  1786  was  about  thirty 
pounds.  In  1789  it  had  not  been  paid,  and  the  farm  of  William 
Rogers,  collector  of  taxes,  was  attached  to  secure  it.  In  1/88 
there  was  due  from  Wolfeborough  to  the  state  of  New  Hamp- 
shire for  deficiency  of  soldiers  over  five  hundred  dollars.  In  1794 
Reuben  Libbey,  as  agent  for  the  town,  paid  thirty-six  pounds  in 
part  payment  of  an  extent  issued  by  order  of  the  state  treasurer 
on  account  of  the  same  matter,  and  in  1797  he,  then  acting  as 
deputy  sheriff,  acknowledges  the  receipt  of  seventy  dollars  for  the 
unpaid  state  tax  of  1789.  In  1799,  sixteen  years  after  the  close 
of  the  war,  Henry  Rust,  Jr.,  then  state  representative,  by  direc- 
tion of  the  town,  made  the  last  payment  for  deficiency  of  soldiers. 

Here  follows  a  list  of  the  tax-payers  in  Wolfeborough  in  1781 
arranged  according  to  the  value  of  the  taxes  assessed  against  each 
respectively.  It  is  not  claimed  that  such  a  list  is  a  true  criterion 
by  which  to  determine  the  relative  value  of  a  person's  possessions 
on  account  of  varying  circumstances,  but  it  furnishes  a  general 
clew  to  it : — 

Cabbott  Farm,  Lieut.  Ebenezer  Home,  Col.  Henry  Rust,  Ben- 
jamin Evans,  Matthew  S.  Parker,  Ensign  Reuben  Libbey,  Ben- 
jamin Blake,  James  Connor,  Lieut.  Andrew  Lucas,  Lieut.  Wil- 
liam Lucas,  Lieut.  Jonathan  Lary,  Samuel  Tebbetts,  Joseph  Lary, 
Jeremiah  Gould,  Robert  Calder,  Robert  Estes,  Widow  Mary  Ful- 
lerton,  Andrew  Wiggin,  Ebenezer  Header.  James  Lucas,  3rd, 
Capt.  John  Sinkler,  William^  Rogers,  Jonathan  Hersey,  Enoch 
Thomas,  John  Fullerton,  Aaron  Frost,  Benjamin  Durgin,  Thomas 
Piper,  Lemuel  Clifford,  Samuel  Tebbetts,  Jr.,  Abraham  Prebble, 
Moses  Varney,  James  Lucas,  Jr.,  Samuel  Hide,  Joseph  Keniston, 
Joseph  Leavitt,  Thomas  Triggs,  Doct.  Cutter  for  the  "Mills," 
John  Emerson,  Benjamin  Wiggin,  Isaiah  Home,  Edmund  Teb- 
betts, -  -  Shortridge,  John  Lucas,  Joseph  Estes,  Ichabod 
Tebbetts,  Henry  Rust,  Jr..  Daniel  Piper.  The  following  named 
persons  probably  paid  only  a  poll  tax  :  John  Piper,  Richard  Rust, 
Ebenezer  Home,  Jr.,  Stephen  Home,  James  Lucas,  John  Hide, 


172 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Capt.  John  Martin,  Timothy  Johnson,  William  Gordon,  William 
Cotton,  Thomas  Smith,  Thomas  Baker — sixty  tax  payers  and 
fifty-eight  polls. 

The  inventory  of  1782  represents  the  town  as  having  63  acres 
of  tillage  land,  325  acres  of  mowing  land,  and  351  acres  of  pas- 
turage ;  32  horses,  60  oxen,  100  cows,  25  three  years  old,  30  two 
years  old,  and  20  one  year  old  cattle.  The  value  of  buildings  was 
estimated  at  three  thousand  and  fifteen  dollars,  one  thousand 
being  the  state  farm  buildings.  Here  is  inserted  a  portion  of  an 
inventory  found  in  loose  manuscript : — 

Hide,  wife,  six  children,  one  house. 

Durgin,  wife. 

Calder,  wife,  eight  children,  one  house,  one  barn. 

Shortridge,  wife,  four  children. 

Frost,  wife,  seven  children. 

Samuel  Tebbetts,  Jr.,  wife,  six  children,  one  house,  one  barn. 

Joseph  Keniston,  wife,  two  children,  one  barn. 

Joseph  Leavitt,  wife,  two  children,  one  house,  one  barn. 

Furbur,  wife,  three  children,  one  house. 

Prebble,  seven  children. 

Glynn,  one  house,  one  barn. 

Cabbott,  one  house,  two  barns,  one  stable. 

John  Lary,  wife,  two  children,  one  house,  one  barn. 

Triggs,  wife,  one  child. 

Durgin,  wife,  five  children,  one  house,  one  barn. 

This  inventory  was  confined  to  the  northeasterly  part  of  the 
town,  and  comprised  about  one-third  of  the  population  of  Wolfe- 
borough.  Not  including  the  Glynn  and  Cabbotts  establishments, 
it  numbered  fourteen  families  with  fifty-five  children  and  a  popu- 
lation of  eighty-three  which  the  laborers  on  the  Cabbott  farm 
would  have  increased  to  nearly  one  hundred.  It  had  ten  houses 
and  ten  barns.  A  note  indicates  that  there  were  in  the  town 
thirty-three  houses,  thirty-seven  barns,  and  a  population  of  two 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


173 


hundred  and  seventy-four.  From  this  invoice  it  may  be  inferred 
that  very  few  families  came  to  Wolfeborough  during  the  war, 
and  that  the  moderate  increase  in  the  number  of  its  inhabitants 
may  be  chiefly  attributed  to  births  and  the  growth  of  children. 

In  1786  a  census  of  the  town  was  taken  by  order  of  the  state, 
but  for  some  cause  the  selectmen  failed  to  report  a  particular  ac- 
count of  it,  and  the  aggregate  only  is  known,  which  is  three  hun- 
dred and  seventeen,  three  hundred  and  one  residents  and  sixteen 
transients,  or  hired  persons. 

From  the  foregoing  statements  the  condition  of  Wolfeborough 
at  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War  may  be  inferred.  After  the 
departure  of  Governor  Wentworth's  attaches  the  population  of 
the  town  consisted  of  persons  in  moderate  circumstances  or  ex- 
tremely poor,  generally  with  large  and  increasing  families  of  chil- 
dren. 

The  demand  of  the  new  government  for  men  and  means  to 
carry  on  the  war  were  even  at  the  first  very  urgent ;  but  they 
were  met  with  commendable  alacrity,  although  at  great  sacrifice, 
until  1781.  At  that  period  the  resources  of  the  town  in  both 
particulars  had  become  exhausted,  and  it  could  no  longer  answer 
its  calls.  In  financial  matters  a  complete  collapse  had  occurred. 
In  desperation  it  offered  large  bounties  for  soldiers,  but  its  ability 
to  meet  its  pledged  obligations  was  discredited,  and  there  were  no 
enlistments.  So  far  as  furnishing  aid  to  the  state  government  it 
was  helplessly  bankrupt ;  yet  there  was  hope  in  the  more  or  less 
distant  future.  Although  comparatively  few  persons  had  come 
within  its  borders  for  the  purpose  of  settlement  for  nearly  a  de- 
cade, its  own  population  had  been  kept  quite  intact,  and  the 
young  mind  and  muscle  which  had  been  developing  in  families 
during  the  seven  years'  conflict  was  very  encouraging  prospective 
capital.  But  there  must  be  a  season  of  waiting  and  pinching. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

ESTES  FAMILY — COTTON  FAMILY — ROGERS  FAMILY — HERSEY 
FAMILY — MARTIN  FAMILY — BRIEF  SKETCHES  OF  OTHER 
FAMILIES. 

THE  war  being  over,  sketches  of  families  and  persons  will 
be  resumed  and  continued  for  a  space.  Robert  Estes 
came  to  Wolfeborough  about  1778,  probably  from  New  Dur- 
ham, where,  it  is  said,  he  carried  on  tanning"  and  shoe-making. 
He  was  evidently  a  person  of  considerable  business  capacity, 
as  he  was  elected  auditor,  an  office  that  comparatively  few 
Wolfeborough  citizens  were  then  capable  of  filling.  He  sold  to 
the  town  one  large  yoke  of  oxen  for  army  beef,  most  likely  raised 
on  his  farm  in  New  Durham.  He  was  born  Feb.  18,  1750  and  his 
wife,  Sarah  Hanson,  Aug.  23,  1754.  Their  children  were :  Han- 
nah, born  Nov.  12,  1774,  married  David  Wentworth,  of  Milton; 
Susannah,  born  Oct.  8,  1776,  married  James  Roberts,  of  Ossipee ; 
Elijah,  born  Jan.  13,  1779,  married  Martha  Roberts;  Lydia,  born 
June  1 8,  1781,  married  John  Buffum,  of  Berwick  ;  Elizabeth,  born 
April  12,  1783.  After  remaining  in  Wolfeborough  a  few  years  it 
is  said  that  Estes  returned  to  New  Durham. 

His  son  Elijah,  when  quite  young,  married  Martha  Roberts, 
and  entered  on  the  business  of  shoe-making.  About  1805  he  pur- 
chased the  most  southerly  of  the  fifty-acre  lots,  that  which  James 
Lucas  had  given  to  his  son  Nehemiah,  and  built  a  house  near  that 
never-failing  fountain  of  water  still  known  as  the  "Estes  Spring1." 
Here  he  resided  during  his  lifetime,  and  reared  a  family  of  chil- 
dren, as  follows : 

Sarah,  born  Oct.  18,  1806,  married  Daniel  Deland :  Robert, 
bom  April  20,  1808,  married  P.etsey  Shepherd ;  Hannah,  born 
June  18.  1810,  married  Daniel  Shepherd:  James,  born  [an.  20, 

'74 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


175 


1813,  married  Louisa  Roberts;  John,  born  December  10,   1818, 
married  Emily  Marden. 

He  was  not  an  affluent,  but  very  industrious  citizen,  working 
at  his  trade  and  ordinary  farm  labor.  He  cut  and  cleared  the  road 
which  leads  past  the  Charles  S.  Paris  farm-house  to  the  Hersey 
Brook,  a  distance  of  nearly  two  miles,  for  four  dollars.  He  be- 
queathed the  farm  to  his  son  Robert,  who  was  obligated  to  sup- 
port his  widowed  mother.  She  survived  her  husband  many  years. 
Air.  Estes'  sons  had  a  great  passion  for  hunting,  Robert  becom- 
ing especially  noted  as  a  hunter.  His  son,  Jonathan  P.,  is  a  man 
of  unusually  large  size,  being  six  feet  four  inches  in  height  and 
proportionally  broad. 

James  Estes  had  four  daughters :  Anna  R.,  born  June,  1845, 
married  David  Bennett,  of  Tuftonborough  ;  Maria  B.,  born  Oct. 
22,  1848,  married  Edward  Farnham,  of  Milton;  Sophia,  born 
Oct.  5,  1850,  married  Frank  H.  Young,  of  Tuftonborough  ;  Louisa, 
born  Oct.  21,  1853,  married  Charles  H.  Tutt,  of  Lynn,  Mass. 

Colonel  William  Cotton  was  born  in  Portsmouth,  Feb.  29,  1738. 
He  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  French  and  Indian  War,  and  after- 
wards became  a  colonel  in  the  New  Hampshire  militia.  October 
20,  1761,  he  married  Mary  Clark,  who  was  born  Dec.  17,  1737, 
and  died  in  Wolfeborough,  March  17,  1798.  Col.  Cotton  came 
to  Wolfeborough  in  1781,  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
his  great  grandson,  Albert  W.  Cotton.  He  soon  opened  one  of 
the  little  taverns  so  common  at  that  period,  and  also  began  re- 
tailing goods  in  a  small  way.  The  store  which  he  occupied  is  now 
a  part  of  the  farm-house  kitchen.  He  took  with  him  to  Wolfe- 
borough  eight  children  whose  ages  ranged  from  one  to  eighteen 
years.  Two  had  previously  died  in  Portsmouth,  and  two  that 
were  born  after  his  arrival  in  Wolfeborough  were  short  lived.  The 
other  eight  married,  had,  in  the  aggregate,  fifty-nine  children,  and 
reached  an  average  age  of  seventy-one  years.  Col.  Cotton  was 
evidently  a  man  of  means,  as  he  soon  purchased  a  large  tract  of 
land,  much  of  which  still  remains  in  the  possession  of  his 


176 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


descendants.  Six  of  his  seven  sons  settled  in  his  immediate 
neighborhood.  At  one  time  there  were  twelve  farms  comprising 
sixteen  hundred  acres  of  land,  most  of  which  was  in  a  compact 
body,  owned  by  persons  of  the  Cotton  name  and  blood. 

His  oldest  son,  William,  at  first  settled  in  Wolfeborough,  but 
afterwards  removed  to  Castine,  Maine.  A  son  of  his,  also  named 
William,  returned  to  Wolfeborough  and  became  a  prominent  citi- 
zen of  the  town.  He  served  seven  years  as  selectman,  dying  while 
in  office.  Dudley  P.  Cotton,  a  son  of  his,  went  to  the  West  Indies 
and  became  wealthy.  Subsequently  he  returned  to  Wolfeborough, 
and  purchased  a  farm  in  the  neighborhood  where  he  was  born, 
purposing  to  make  it  his  future  abode.  He  contributed  quite 
generously  for  the  improvement  of  the  highways  and  schools  in  the 
neighborhood,  but  not  receiving  so  ardent  co-operative  response 
to  his  acts  as  he  desired,  he  disposed  of  his  property  and  returned 
to  his  island  home,  where  he  soon  after  died. 

John  P.  Cotton,  the  second  son  of  William,  the  settler,  took  a  lot 
of  land  next  to  Brookfield  line,  near  the  site  of  the  East  Wolfe- 
borcugh  church.  It  proved  to  be  one  of  the  best  farms  in  Wolfe- 
borough.  He  married  Betsy  Allen,  of  Ossipee,  and  had  nine 
children.  He  lived  to  the  age  of  seventy-six  years. 

Thomas  Cotton  took  the  lot  of  land  lying  northwest  of  John's 
and  adjoining  it.  He  married  Martha  Furber,  of  Wolfeborough, 
and  had  six  children.  He  was  deacon  of  the  Freewill  Baptist 
church,  and  occasionally  preached.  He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years. 

James  Cotton's  farm  lay  south  of  that  belonging  to  Thomas. 
He  married  Betsy  Robinson,  of  Brookfield,  by  whom  he  had  four 
children.  He  was  eighty-seven  years  old  when  he  died. 

Isaac  Cotton  married  Eliza  Martin,  of  Brookfield,  by  whom  he 
had  eight  children.  He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years. 

George  C.  Cotton  settled  near  Nute's  Ridge,  where  now  resides 
his  grandson,  George  C.  Avery.  He  married  Sally,  daughter  of 


NATHANIEL   ROGERS 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


177 


Col.  Mark  Wiggin  and  had  four  children.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
sixty-five  years. 

Samuel  Cotton  married  Sally  Fernald,  of  Brookfield,  by  whom 
he  had  six  children.  His  farm  was  on  the  north  side  of  Cotton 
Mountain,  adjoining  the  Thomas  Cotton  lot.  He  lived  to  be 
seventy-one  years  old.  His  son,  Brackett  F.  Cotton,  resides  on 
the  home  place. 

Mary  Cotton  married  Robert  Pike,  of  Middleton,  and  was  the 
mother  of  ten  children.  She  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years. 

For  two  generations  the  descendants  of  Col.  William  Cotton 
were  quite  noted  for  demonstrations  of  religious  enthusiasm ;  so 
much  so  as  to  give  character  to  the  neighborhood  called  Cotton- 
borough.  Latterly  this  family  trait  has  not  been  especially  notice- 
able. About  the  time  that  William  Cotton  settled  in  Wolfe- 
borough  a  brother  named  Thomas  came  to  the  town,  and  com- 
menced a  settlement  on  the  Isaac  Rindge  lot.  He  afterwards  re- 
turned to  Rockingham  County.  Col.  Cotton's  family  were  stal- 
warts. He  was  six  feet  and  four  inches  in  height ;  his  sons  aver- 
aged six  feet  and  one  inch  in  height  and  two  hundred  pounds  in 
weight,  while  a  grandson,  Henry,  was  six  and  a  half  feet  in  height 
and  weighed  three  hundred  pounds.  Col.  Cotton  died  September 
8,  1721,  aged  eighty-three  years. 

The  ancestors  of  the  Rogers  family  were  probably  Scotch- 
Irish.  If  so,  it  can  boast  of  as  good  blood  as  flows  in  American 
veins.  New  Hampshire  had  quite  an  infusion  of  it  in  early  times, 
some  of  the  best  citizens  of  the  province  and  state  being  of  that 
race,  among  them,  Horace  Greely. 

James  Rogers,  of  Portsmouth,  settled  in  Rochester  in  1734, 
probably  at  the  location  now  known  as  Hayes'  Crossing,  as  here 
was  the  Rogers'  stopping-place  on  the  route  from  Portsmouth 
in  Governor  Wrentworth's  time.  He  was  accompanied  by  his  son 
Charles,  who,  in  1747,  married  Mary,  the  daughter  of  John  Mc- 
Duffee,  and  four  years  after  purchased  his  father's  farm.  He 
appears  to  have  been  an  enterprising  citizen  of  Rochester,  and 


!78  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

was  several  times  elected  one  of  the  board  of  selectmen.  Some 
years  after,  having  received  a  grant  from  the  King  of  England  of 
two  thousand  acres  of  land  at  Merry  Meeting  for  meritorious  ser- 
vices while  acting  as  lieutenant  in  the  French  and  Indian  War, 
he  removed  to  that  place,  and  commenced  lumbering.  With 
the  aid  of  his  sons,  Samuel  and  William,  he  built  a  sawmill.  While 
here  he  came  to  the  meadows  on  Lake  Wentworth  in  the  summer, 
and  harvested  hay,  which  he  stacked.  His  son  William,  a  mere 
lad,  spent  the  next  winter  there  taking  care  of  four  oxen  that  were 
protected  from  the  weather  by  a  hovel  built  of  logs.  He  was,  un- 
doubtedly, the  first  white  person  who  hibernated  within  the  limits 
of  \Volfeborough.  During  his  seclusion  he  was  visited  only  oc- 
casionally by  members  of  the  family  bringing  food. 

William  Rogers  came  to  Wolfeborough  as  a  settler  in  1776, 
when  he  was  twenty  years  old.  He  was  a  member  of  the  militia 
company  which  was  that  year  organized.  Probably  his  father, 
Lieutenant  Charles,  came  to  the  town  about  the  same  time,  and 
thereafter  made  his  home  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Joseph  Lary. 
Having  been  much  exposed  to  hardships  as  a  soldier,  hunter,  and 
pioneer  settler,  he  appears  to  have  somewhat  prematurely  aged. 
Being  incapacitated  for  labor  when  he  came  to  Wolfeborough,  he 
spent  most  of  his  time  in  fishing  either  from  the  shore  or  on  the 
ice  of  the  lake.  To  protect  himself  from  the  severity  of  cold 
weather,  he  had  a  seat  constructed  and  boarded  on  three  sides,  a 
sort  of  rude  forerunner  of  the  little  fish-houses  that  now  clot  the 
surface  of  Wolfeborough  Bay  in  the  winter  season.  On  one 
occasion  his  structure  was  seized  by  a  fierce  nor'-wester,  and  he, 
though  vigorously  protesting,  made  a  speedy  visit  to  Clark's 
shore.  As  years  increased  he  became  blind,  and  weakened  by 
senility,  the  pastime  of  fishing  became  such  a  passion  that  he 
continued  the  avocation,  although  frequently  annoyed  by  mis- 
chievous boys,  who  would  tug  at  his  line  in  imitation  of  a  fish-bite. 

William  Rogers  was  born  in  Rochester,  February  8,  1756.  In 
1779  he  purchased  a  one-hundred-acre  lot  of  David  Sewall  for 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


179 


four  pounds  of  Spring  beaver  fur.  It  was  situated  on  the  north- 
westerly side  of  Smith's  River.  January  25,  1780,  he  married 
Mary  Chamberlain,  of  Rochester,  and  soon  after  erected  a  house 
on  his  lot.  This  house  was  located  a  little  south  of  the  present 
site  of  the  Christian  church.  A  portion  of  it  is  still  standing.  It  ' 
was  formerly  used  as  a  small  inn,  and  here  sometimes  town  meet- 
ings were  held.  A  part  of  it  was  also  occupied  as  a  store.  In  this 
house,  October  19,  1792,  was  organized  the  Freewill  Baptist 
church,  which  now  worships  in  Wolfeborough  Falls,  being  the 
first  church  organized  in  Wolfeborough.  In  it  also,  six  days  later, 
was  ordained  Isaac  Townsend,  the  first  person  set  apart  to  the 
work  of  the  ministry  in  the  town.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  same 
day,  however,  Ebenezer  Allen  was  ordained  as  the  town  minister 
at  the  meeting-house. 

It  is  not  now  known  whether  Mr.  Rogers  ever  professed  piety. 
His  sympathies,  however,  were  with  the  Baptists,  and  his  wife 
became  a  member  of  that  church  within  a  few  weeks  after  its 
organization.  Until  the  erection  of  school-houses  religious  meet- 
ings were  frequently  held  at  his  house  on  the  Sabbath  and  at 
other  times.  Mr.  Rogers  not  only  cleared  and  improved  his 
farm,  but  did  considerable  business  on  his  own  account  in  buying 
and  selling  lands.  He  was  several  times  elected  on  the  board  of 
selectmen,  and  for  many  years  had  the  custody  of  the  grain  taxes 
paid  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  south  side  of  the  town.  His  first 
wife,  who  bore  him  six  children,  died  September  10,  1795,  and 
the  following  year  he  married  Mary  Connor,  by  whom  he  had 
eight  children.  Twelve  of  the  fourteen  reached  mature  age.  He 
died  April  28,  1810.  He  bequeathed  the  home  place  to  his  son 
Nathaniel,  in  whose  care  he  left  his  widow  and  the  younger  chil- 
dren. The  trust  was  most  faithfully  executed. 

The  names  of  his  children  by  his  first  wife  were  John,  Eleanor, 
William,  Nathaniel,  David,  and  Mary,  or  Polly,  as  she  was 
familiarly  called.  Those  by  his  second  wife  were  James,  Samuel 
C.  Daniel,  Nancy,  Susan,  Hannah,  Jane,  and  Phoebe  C. 


jgo  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Three  of  his  sons,  William,  David,  and  Samuel  C,  at  an  early 
age  left  home  and  started  out  in  life  for  themselves  in  Salem, 
Mass.,  but  soon  removed  to  Boston  where  they  continued  in  the 
mercantile  business  until  about  1815.  They  then  removed  with 
their  families  to  the  West,  and  finally  located  at  Cincinnati,  where 
they  settled  permanently  in  business.  Many  of  their  descendants 
continue  to  reside  there. 

Nathaniel  and  James  married  and  settled  in  their  native  town, 
the  latter  marrying  Clarissa  Wiggin.  About  1840  he  moved  to 
Stetson,  Me.,  where  in  addition  to  managing  a  large  farm,  he  con- 
ducted an  extensive  lumbering  business,  and  held  important 
offices  in  the  town.  He  ever  remained  much  attached  to  his 
Wolfeborough  home  and  early  associates,  visiting  the  town  very 
frequently  during  his  life.  He  died  December  30,  1878. 

Eleanor  Rogers  married  Samuel  Meader ;  Mary  (Polly), 
Thomas  Chamberlain,  of  Brookfield ;  Nancy,  William  Thomas ; 
Susan,  Alpheus  Swett ;  Hannah,  Isaac  Copp,  of  Tuftonborough ; 
and  Phoebe,  Samuel  Thompson.  Daniel  and  Jane  died  in  infancy. 

At  the  time  of  his  father's  death  Nathaniel  Rogers  was  less  than 
twenty-five  years  of  age.  There  was  a  large  family  of  younger 
brothers  for  whom  he  was  to  provide  a  home.  He  immediately 
commenced  making  the  arrangements  to  build  a  house.  This  he 
completed  in  1812.  It  was  a  large  two-storied  building  situated 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road  from  where  his  father  had  erected 
one  about  thirty  years  before.  It  remained  in  the  possession  of 
the  family  about  seventy  years.  In  February  16,  1815,  Mr.  Rogers 
married  Martha,  daughter  of  Richard  Rust,  by  whom  he  had 
seven  children,  all  of  whom  are  now  deceased.  His  wife  died  in 
1832,  and  he  afterwards  married  Eleanor  Jane,  daughter  of  John 
L.  Piper.  She  bore  him  three  children,  Nathaniel  Piper,  John, 
and  Lucy  M.  These  are  now  living,  John  being  a  resident  of 
Wolfeborough.  Mr.  Rogers  had  more  than  an  ordinary  share  of 
domestic  cares,  at  first  acting  the  part  of  a  parent  to  his  younger 
brothers  and  sisters,  and  then  rearing  his  own  large  family  of 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUQH.  i$i 

children.  He  was  a  capable  and  busy  man ;  besides  managing 
and  improving  his  large  and  valuable  farm,  he  had  charge  of  the 
sawmill  situated  at  the  lower  falls  on  Smith's  River,  where  he 
manufactured  a  large  amount  of  lumber,  running  his  mill  with 
double  crews.  It  is  not  improbable  that  he  owned  the  mill  for 
several  years ;  nor  is  it  unlikely  that  he  built  the  house  now  occu- 
pied by  the  widow  of  Charles  H.  Parker,  as  there  was  connected 
with  that  a  store  which  he  occupied,  and  which  is  now  the  one- 
story  house  situated  on  Center  Street  opposite  the  residence  of 
W.  B.  Hodge.  He  also  engaged  in  a  variety  of  enterprises,  being 
an  owner  of  one-fourth  of  the  Pickering  Factory.  While  con- 
ducting the  lumber  business  at  the  "Mills,"  he  resided  temporarily 
in  the  Kent  house,  now  occupied  by  Charles  L.  Home,  2nd.  He  was 
a  level-headed,  active,  public-spirited  citizen,  neither  a  bigot  in 
religion  nor  a  narrow  partisan  in  politics.  He  seems  not  to  have 
been  ambitious  for  office,  although  he  represented  the  town  of 
Wolfeborough  in  the  legislature  and  was  one  of  the  first  judges 
cf  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  in  Carroll  County,  serving  from 
iS4i  to  1846. 

On  the  matter  of  liquor  selling  he  was  in  advance  of  the  pre- 
vailing sentiment  of  the  town  in  his  day.  As  a  proof  of  his  free- 
dom from  bias,  it  is  related  that  when  the  building  of  churches  in 
Wolfeborough  was  first  agitated,  he  suggested  that  one  should  be 
erected  on  the  Brick  Schoolhouse  Hill  for  the  joint  occupancy  of 
the  Congregationlists  and  the  Freewill  Baptists,  those  then  being 
the  predominating  sects  in  the  compact  part  of  the  village. 

James,  son  of  James  Hersey,  of  Newmarket,  reared  a  family 
of  ten  children.  Two  of  them,  Jonathan,  born  in  1846,  and 
Jemima,  born  in  1850,  settled  in  Wolfeborough.  Jemima  married 
John  Piper.  The  other  children  settled  in  Sanbornton.  Jonathan 
Hersey,  in  17/1,  received  of  Daniel  Pierce,  of  Portsmouth,  a  deed 
of  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land,  a  portion  of  the  "Great 
Lot."  Mr.  Hersey  is  spoken  of  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  He  had 
nine  children. 


!82  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

James,  a  son  of  Jonathan,  had  one  son,  George  W.,  who  spent 
his  life  in  this  town.  He  was  born  January  i,  1805,  an^  m  early 
life  was  much  intereste.l  in  military  matters.  Passing-  through  the 
lower  grades,  he  finally  became  brigadier-general  of  the  N.  H. 
militia  and  was  for  many  years  known  by  that  title.  He  farmed 
somewhat  extensively  and  owned  the  large  limber  tract 
known  as  Hersey's  woods.  He  served  twice  as  selectman.  He 
married  November  19,  1829,  Mary  E.  Wiggin,  who  still  survives 
him.  Their  children  were :  James  Albert,  born  November  22, 
1830,  died  young;  Charles  H.,  born  December  23,  1832;  Albert 
James,  born  March  3,  1835  ;  Dana  Samuel,  born  November  14, 
1837;  Ann  Eliza,  born  January  n,  1840;  Emily  Caroline,  born 
January  20,  1843:  Sarah  Elizabeth,  born  March  24,  1846;  Abby 
Helen,  born  March  19,  1850. 

Charles  H.,  son  of  George  W.,  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College 
and  was  for  a  short  time  preceptor  of  the  Wolfeborougjijind  Tuf- 
tonborough  Academy.  The  greater  part  of  his  life  has  been  spent 
in  business,  however,  in  Boston  and  Wolfeborough.  He  has 
served  on  the  school  board  and  in  various  minor  official  capacities. 
He  married  July  20,  1865,  Olivia  Mason.  He  has  one  daughter, 
Nellie  O.,  born  May  8,  1866,  who  married  Dr.  Edwin  H.  Ross, 
of  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.,  and  has  two  children. 

John  B.,  son  of  Jonathan,  occupied  the  farm  on  which  for  many 
years  lived  his  son,  James  P.  He  married  Ruth  Nudd,  March  14, 
1813.  He  died  August  21,  1853.  His  children  were:  Mary, 
born  December  i,  1814;  John,  born  March  14,  1816;  William  H., 
born  September  10.  1818;  James  P.,  born  November  6,  1822; 
Erastus,  born  November  6,  1824;  Hannah  N.,  born  January  28, 
1828;  Samuel  N.,  born  June  n,  1831. 

James  P.  married  Clarissa  J.  Willey  and  had  one  son,  Eddy 
E.,  born  July  1 1,  1854,  who  has  since  the  death  of  his  father  man- 
aged the  home  farm. 

Samuel  N.  has  been  a  merchant  and  manufacturer  of  clothing. 
He  married,  May  9,  1857,  Susan  E.  Copp,  by  whom  he  had  one 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  ^3 

son,  Oma,  who  died  young.  He  married,  June  6,  1877,  Catherine 
M.  Leighton,  of  Portsmouth.  The  children  are :  Parry  T.,  born 
January  16,  1880,  married  Edna  E.  Sanborn,  and  has  one  child, 
Louise  Elizabeth;  Ralph  S.,  born  July  17,  1882. 

Elijah  Hersey,  son  of  Jonathan,  settled  on  the  farm  on  Pine 
Hill  now  occupied  by  Henry  G.  Home.  He  married  Hannah 
Tibbetts.  Children:  Druzilla,  born  1811;  Mary  A.,  born  1813; 
Levi  T.,  born  1816;  Asa  D.,  born  1818;  Ezra  B.,  born  1820; 
Julia  A.,  born  1822. 

Jonathan  Hersey,  son  of  Jonathan,  settled  on  the  farm  now 
occupied  by  the  family  of  his  son,  William  P.  Children :  William 
P.,  born  February  7,  1826;  Woodbury  L.,  born  March  9,  1829; 
Winthrop  D.,  born  February  4,  1830 ;  Hannah,  born  March  27, 
1834,  married  B.  F.  Mason.  Two  sons  named  Charles  died 
young. 

William  P.  Hersey  was  a  farmer ;  settled  on  the  old  homestead ; 
married  Lucinda  Avery ;  died  January  18,  1887.  Children : 
Charles  F.,  born  August  23,  1859 ;  Anna  J.,  born  October  30,  1863, 
married  Charles  Basset ;  Virgil  P.,  born  January  27,  1871. 

Woodbury  L.  Hersey  was  a  laborer.  He  married  Louise  Nute, 
by  whom  he  had  one  son,  George  F.,  born  April  7,  1864.  Wood- 
bury  died  May  29,  1875. 

Winthrop  D.  Hersey  is  a  carpenter.  He  married  Georgiana 
Guptil.  Children  :  M.  Annie,  born  April  19,  1857,  married  George 
R.  Wilson,  of  Oxford.  Me.;  Charles  D.,  born  January  15.  1859, 
married  Nellie  Frances,  has  one  daughter,  Annie ;  Frank  E.,  born 
May,  1861,  married  Marie  C.  Chamberlain ;  Fred  E.,born  Septem- 
ber 23,  1862,  married  Anna  M.  McDonald,  who  died  in  1899, 
leaving  a  daughter,  Elta. 

John  Martin  came  to  Wolfeborough  as  an  agent  of  the  Cabots 
in  1780.  Isaac  Martin,  his  son,  then  six  years  old,  accompanied 
him.  When  he  was  twenty-one  years  old,  Isaac  began  felling 
trees  on  the  Banfield  farm,  but  finding  the  growth  very  heavy, 
he  gave  up  the  attempt  to  clear  land  there  and  took  up  a  portion  of 


!g4  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

the  Governor  Wentworth  farm.  Here  he  lived  until  his  death 
at  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years.  This  farm,  on  what  has  long  been 
known  as  Martin's  Hill,  is  now  owned  by  Stephen  W.  Clow,  Esq. 
Isaac  Martin's  children  were:  Daniel,  born  November  26,  1802; 
George,  died  young :  Betsy,  died  young ;  Maria,  married  Daniel 
Chamberlain,  of  Boston  :  Betsy,  married  Henry  Emery,  of  Lowell. 

Daniel  Martin  was  a  farmer.  He  did  much  surveying  and 
administrative  business,  served  as  selectman  six  times  and  repre- 
sentative twice.  He  died  June  7,  1874.  His  children  were: 
George  B.,  who  spent  most  of  his  life  in  Boston  and  New  York; 
Almira  A.,  died  young:  Leander,  died  young;  Edgar,  died  young; 
James  H.,  born  August  17,  1841  :  Elizabeth  F.,  married  Edwin  C. 
Newell ;  Lois,  born  January  6,  1846,  married  John  Eaton. 

James  H.  Martin  married  Man-,  the  daughter  of  Samuel 
Huggins,  and  for  a  time  lived  on  the  home  farm.  He  afterwards 
carried  on  the  Huggins  farm,  and  in  1887  moved  to  a  handsome 
residence  which  he  had  erected  in  Wolfeborough  village,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  Like  his  father,  he  has  done  considerable  sur- 
veying and  has  had  the  administration  of  many  estates.  He  has 
served  five  terms  as  selectman  and  once  as  representative,  also 
as  member  of  the  school  board,  as  precinct  fireward,  and  has 
held  many  minor  offices.  Mr.  Martin  has,  during  a  useful  life  in 
his  native  town,  won  an  enviable  reputation  for  ability  and  honesty 
in  the  many  public  positions  to  which  he  has  been  called,  and  has 
liberally  supported  all  movements  for  the  public  welfare. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

EBENEZER  HORNE  AND  HIS  SUCCESS  AS  A  ROAD-BUILDER — SOME- 
THING OF  HIS  FAMILY — WHY  "GOOSE  CORNER"  WAS  SO- 
CALLED — ROADS  BUILT  IN  ALL  DIRECTIONS — HISTORY  AND 
DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  OSSIPEE  ROAD — OTHER  IMPORTANT 
ROADS  LAID  OUT  SINCE  1800 — THE  VILLAGE  STREETS. 

THE  tract  of  land  situated  north  of  Smith's  River  and  extend- 
ing to  the  John  Fullerton  farm,  bounded  on  one  side  by  the 
Miles  Road  and  on  the  other  by  the  lake,  contained  about  fifteen 
hundred  acres  exclusive  of  Wolfeborough  Neck.  It  included 
most  of  the  Rogers  farm,  the  farms  of  the  seven  settlers,  and 
four  or  five  hundred  acres  of  land  lying  between  the  Widow 
Fullerton's  lot  and  that  of  her  son  John.  This  land  was  in  the  pos- 
session of  John  Flagg,  who,  in  1777,  exchanged  it  with  Ebenezer 
Home,  of  Dover  for  real  estate  in  that  town.  Mr.  Home  removed 
to  Wolfeborough  with  several  well  grown  sons.  The  highway 
leading  to  Tuftonborough  was  on  the  border  of  his  land,  and  as 
he  wished  to  utilize  this  in  furnishing  sites  for  homes  for  himself 
and  sons,  it  would  be  for  the  advantage  of  the  family  to  have  a 
change  in  the  direction  of  the  road.  The  route  of  the  Miles  Road 
as  it  then  ran  was  preferable  for  easy  travel  to  the  present  high- 
way, but  Mr.  Home,  who  was  a  man  of  means  and  energy,  had  the 
address  to  bring  about  the  desired  change. 

It  will  probably  be  remembered  that  the  Miles  Road  was  opened 
before  the  town  had  a  single  inhabitant  at  the  expense  of  the  town 
proprietors,  and  perhaps  its  width  was  not  definitely  described. 
It  began  at  the  cove  in  Lake  Winnipesaukee  and  at  the  head  line 
of  Col.  Rust's  lot,  and  followed  the  same  general  course  as  does 
the  present  Main  Road  as  far  as  the  residence  of  Jonas  W.  Piper, 
thence  forward  in  the  same  general  direction  to  the  dwelling  of 
Alfred  Brown,  and  from  there  in  a  quite  direct  line  to  the  John 

185 


jg6  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

Fullerton  lot,  which  bordered  on  Tuftonborough.  In  1779  the 
town  instructed  the  highway  surveyors,  John  Sinkler  and  Joseph 
Lary  to  lay  out  such  a  road,  as  is  shown  by  their  report,  here  sub- 
joined. 

"We,  the  subscribers,  surveyors  of  the  highways  for  the  south 
side  of  the  town  of  Wolfborough,  have  this  day  laid  out  and 
spotted  a  road  four  rods  wide  from  Wolfborough  line  adjoining 
the  Gore  thro'  the  land  belonging  to  Doct.  Ammi  Ruhamah  Cut- 
ter, Col.  Henry  Rust,  and  Captain  Thomas  Lucas  to  the  main 
road  leading  thro'  the  land  belonging  to  James  Conner,  being  the 
road  now  used  as  the  main  road  for  the  south  side  of  the  town, 
and  continuing  the  same  course  said  road  now  runs  until  it  comes 
to  the  land  belonging  to  Ebenezer  Meder  and  Robert  Estes,  where 
it  then  turns  from  its  present  course  at  the  corner  of  the  line  be- 
tween said  Meder  and  Estes,  and  runs  thro'  said  Estes'  land  on 
the  south  side  of  his  dwelling  house  to  land  belonging  to  Ben- 
jamin Blake,  and  running  nearly  upon  a  straight  line  thro'  said 
Blake's  land  to  the  Widow  Mary  Fullerton's  lot,  and  continuing 
nearly  a  straight  course  thro'  said  Fullerton's  land  on  the  east 
side  of  the  buildings  thereon  to  the  land  belonging  to  Lieut. 
Ebenezer  Home,  and  continuing  a  straight  course,  being  nearly  a 
northwest  point,  to  a  brook  running  through  said  land  commonly 
known  by  the  name  of  Meserve  Brook,  then  crossing  said  brook 
and  running  nearly  a  northerly  point  to  the  road  now  used  as  the 
main  road  thro'  said  town  near  the  dwelling  house  belonging  to 
John  Fullerton,  and  continuing  the  same  course  with  said  road  to 
Tuftonborough  line. — 

The  above  road  being  laid  out  by  us,  the  subscribers,  in  con- 
sequence of  a  vote  of  the  town  for  that  purpose,  to  be  an  estab- 
lished road  thro'  the  south  side  of  said  town. 

Given  under  our  hands  at  Wolfborough,  the  ninth  day  of  Sep- 
tember, 1779. 

John  Sinkler    )  Surveyors  of 
Joseph  Lary     )  the  highways." 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  ^7 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  Main  Road  as  here  laid  out  ex- 
tended about  one  mile  farther  south  than  did  the  original  Miles 
Road,  and  reached  New  Durham  line  where  Wolfeborough  and 
the  Gore  (Alton)  then  adjoined  that  town;  from  thence  it  passed 
through  land  belonging  to  Cutter,  Rust,  and  Lucas  to  that  in  the 
possession  of  James  Connor. 

The  land  represented  as  belonging  to  Cutter  was  the  balance  of 
the  Bryant  reserve  lot  of  ten  hundred  and  fifty  acres  after  the  Rust 
lot  of  six  hundred  had  been  taken  from  it.  It  comprised  four 
hundred  and  fifty  acres,  and  was  situated  in  the  southwest  part  of 
the  town.  April  12,  1769,  the  town  proprietors  voted  to  sell  the 
land  for  one  shilling  an  acre,  the  purchaser  to  settle  a  family  as  a 
proprietor.  A.  R.  Cutter,  Geo.  Meserve,  and  John  Parker  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  give  a  conveyance  of  it.  They  evidently 
did  not  dispose  of  it,  and  it  was  subsequently  divided  into  fifty- 
acre-lots,  and  Dr.  Cutter  was  authorized  to  sell  it.  It  is  not  known 
that  as  an  individual  he  had  a  title  to  any  part  of  it.  The  road 
was  also  laid  out  through  land  of  Thomas  Lucas.  This  must 
have  been  a  portion  of  lot  fourteen  (Treadwell's),  situated  be- 
tween the  Rust  lot  and  what  has  since  been  known  as  the  Ban- 
field  farm,  as  James  Connor's  land,  which  amounted  to  nearly 
three  hundred  acres,  is  supposed  to  have  included  that  location. 

It  is  probable  that  when  Ebenezer  Home  first  came  to  Wolfe- 
borough  no  one  of  his  sons  had  reached  his  majority,  although 
Isaiah  was  evidently  nearly  twenty-one.  Perhaps  no  effort  was 
then  made  to  determine  the  precise  number  of  acres  that  his  lot 
contained,  as  its  boundaries  were  well  defined.  With  the  liberal 
allowance  in  measurement  permitted  at  that  time  there  would  not 
be  less  than  five  hundred  acres.  This  he  divided  equally  or  nearly 
so  among  the  members  of  the  family  who  made  their  homes  in 
Wolfeborough,  taking  a  double  portion  for  himself  and  Isaiah, 
whose  property  interests  appear  to  have  been  combined.  How 
much  improved  land  any  one  of  the  family  possessed  in  1794  is 
not  known,  but  of  wild  (unimproved)  land  they  in  that  year  re- 


!88  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

spectively  held  as  follows :  Isaiah,  one  hundred  and  seventy-six 
acres  ;  Stephen,  eighty  :  Benjamin,  eighty-three  ;  John,  eighty  ;  and 
Ebenezer,  seventy-five.  The  farms  were  thus  located :  Isaiah  and 
his  father's  was  situated  where  now  resides  Mrs.  Ellen  Home ; 
Stephen's,  where  now  dwells  his  grandson,  Oscar ;  Benjamin  had 
the  one  now  occupied  by  John  Henry  Home  ;  John,  that  near  the 
lake-shore.  It  is  not  clear  where  Ebenezer's  lot  was  situated.  It 
is  known  that  Copp  s  tavern  was  built  on  land  that  he  once  owned. 

The  advent  of  the  Home  family  was  promotive  of  the  interests 
of  the  town.  Mr.  Home,  though  uneducated,  possessed  sound 
judgment  and  business  tact  that  qualified  him  for  responsible  po- 
sitions. He  \vas  in  a  better  financial  condition  than  most  of  the 
^  inhabitants,  and  this  increased  his  ability  to  be  helpful.  He  was 
one  of  the  committee  for  supplying  beef  for  the  army  in  1781,  and 
was  able  to  furnish  a  large  yoke  of  oxen  for  the  town  on  credit. 
His  stock  at  the  time  consisted  of  one  horse,  four  oxen,  five  cows, 
and  six  young  cattle.  Though  himself  unlearned,  he  sought  to 
impress  on  his  children  the  importance  of  acquiring  knowledge, 
and  their  attainments  were  quite  creditable. 

Isaiah  was  the  most  ambitious  of  the  sons.  He,  in  1782,  taught 
the  second  term  of  school  kept  in  town.  It  continued  three 
months,  and  he  received  in  wages,  including  his  board,  thirty-three 
dollars.  By  private  contributions  from  him  and  two  other  young 
men  with  the  money  raised  by  taxation,  Dudlev___Leayitt,  the 
"almanac  maker,"  was  induced  to  keep  a  term  of  school  in  Wolfe- 
borough,  giving  instruction  in  some  of  the  higher  branches  of 
knowledge.  By  legislative  enactment  he  had  the  H  dropped  from 
his  family  name,  assigning  as  a  reason  a  desire  to  have  the 
;  ortheopy  and  orthography  agree.  His  descendants  have  univer- 
sally written  it  Orne. 

He  married  Mary,  the  third  daughter  of  Col.  Henry  Rust,  by 
whom  he  had  these  children  : 

Isaiah  Green,  born  July  31,  1783,  married  Sarah  Raynard ; 
Henry  Harvey,  born  Feb.  21,  1786,  married  Caroline  Chapin ; 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


189 


Mary  Ann,  born  Jan.  31,  1789,  died  Oct.  16,  1808;  Hariet  Silver, 
born  Aug.  31,  1791,  married  John  Home,  Jr.;  Charles  Balker, 
born  May  16,  1794,  married  Elisabeth  Lane;  Frederick  B.  T., 
born  Feb.  24,  1796;  died  Apr.  17,  1822;  Woodbury  L.,  born  May 
7,  1798,  died  July  31,  1823;  Mary  Anne,  born  Nov.  17,  1808, 
married  Stephen  Home.  To  his  children  he  gave  unusual  op- 
portunities for  obtaining  an  education,  which  they  faithfully  im- 
proved. His  eldest  son,  Isaiah  Green,  married  Margaret,  the 
daughter  of  Daniel  Raynard,  who  was  the  last  proprietor  of  the 
Governor  Wentworth  farm.  They  lived  to  be  aged,  and  spent 
the  latter  part  of  their  lives  in  Middleton,  N.  H.  Two  of  his  sons 
probably  had  a  collegiate  training,  Henry  Harvey  and  Woodbury 
L.  The  former  practiced  law  at  Meredith  Bridge,  now  Laconia. 
The  latter  was  the  first  preceptor  of  Sanbornton  Academy,  and 
had  associated  with  him  his  brother,  Frederick  B.  T.,  as  teacher, 
and  Miss  Caroline  Chapin,  of  Cambridge,  Mass.,  as  preceptress. 
Frederick  died  in  1822,  aged  twenty-six  years,  and  Woodbury,  in 
1823,  aged  twenty-five  years.  Miss  Chapin,  who  had  been  the 
fiancee  of  Woodbury,  married  his  brother,  Henry  Harvey,  who, 
becoming  dissatisfied  with  the  practice  of  law,  retired  to  his  estate 
in  Wolfeborough,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He 
was  honorable  and  intelligent,  though  quite  eccentric,  and  not 
fancying  all  the  methods  adopted  by  members  of  the  legal  pro- 
fession, chose  the  quiet  of  his  rural  home  to  the  noisy  bickerings 
of  the  court-room.  Mrs.  Orne  possessed  considerable  literary 
talent,  and  wrote  many  magazine^articles.  They  had  no  children, 
and  led  a  very  secluded  life. 

Isaiah  Orne  occupied  many  important  positions  and  did  much 
public  business.  His  brother,  Stephen  W.  Home,  although  very 
capable,  was  disinclined  to  hold  public  trusts,  and  often  refused 
to  accept  offices  to  which  he  had  been  elected.  He  had  five  chil- 
dren ;  Ebenezer,  the  same  number ;  Benjamin,  at  least  a  dozen. 
John,  who  married  Jane,  the  fourth  daughter  of  Col.  Henry  Rust, 
had  fifteen.  Thev  were  : 


I90  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Nancy,  born  Aug.  13,  1787,  married  Thomas  Chamberlin,  of 
Brookfield;  John,  born  Feb.  20,  1789,  married  Hariet  Silver 
Home;  Thomas,  born  March  24,  1790,  died  March  24,  1794; 
Betsy,  born  Dec.  n,  1791,  died  January  8,  1792;  Betsy  Adams, 
born  Feb.  4,  1793,  married  William  Chamberlain;  Polly,  born 
July  1 8,  1794,  married  Aaron  Wiggin ;  Rhoda,  born  September 
22,  1796,  married  Stephen  Piper;  Jane  Rust,  born  Apr.  26,  1797, 
died  Apr.  10,  1830;  Hannah,  born  July  13,  1799,  married  Enoch 
Thomas;  Richard,  born  Oct.  16,  1800,  married  Lydia  Eaton; 
Lydia,  born  June  22.  1802,  died  May  17,  1826;  Frances,  born 
Sept.  9,  1803;  Sally,  born  March  20,  1805,  married  George  Wen- 
dell; William  Rust,  born  June  20,  1807,  married  Mary  I.  Baily; 
Isaiah  Waldron,  born  Feb.  15,  1809,  married  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Home. 

Ebenezer  Home,  the  patriarch  of  the  family,  was  an  unusually 
vigorous  person.  He  married  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  and  at 
ninety-five  could  walk  several  miles  with  comparative  ease.  He 
lacked  only  six  months  of  being  a  century  old  at  the  time  of  his 
death. 

The  change  in  the  Miles  Road  brought  it  sixteen  rods  farther 
south  at  the  corner,  and  here  was  eventually  built  up  a  little  ham- 
let, where  besides  dwellings  and  the  usual  out-buildings,  was  a 
tavern  with  a  Masonic  hall,  a  store,  a  small  hat  manufactury,  a 
shoe-shop,  and  a  blacksmith's  shop.  The  inn,  kept  by  the  usually 
suave  Col.  David  Copp,  was  quite  a  resort  for  the  "neckers"  and 
"readers"  from  Tuftonborough  and  residents  of  the  Bridge  village 
below. 

At  that  period  nearly  every  farming  household  had  a  flock  of 
geese.  They  were  the  special  care  of  the  wife  and  her  principal 
source  of  revenue.  The  broad  margin  of  the  main  road  afforded 
good  opportunities  for  foraging,  but  there  was  a  lack  of  water. 
The  geese  were  accustomed  to  visit  the  Meserve  Brook,  which 
crossed  the  highway  about  a  half-mile  to  the  west,  to  perform  their 
ablutions,  and  when  returning  to  their  feeding-ground,  would  fre- 
quently make  a  halt  near  the  Colonel's  premises.  Their  noisy 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUQH. 


191 


gabble  was  quite  annoying  to  him,  and  one  sultry  day,  when  a 
considerable  number  had  passed  through  the  broad  open  way  into 
the  cool  cellar,  he  closed  the  doors  and  imprisoned  them,  refusing 
to  release  them  to  the  owners  without  a  ransom  fee.  The  offended 
dames  vented  their  indignation  by  applying  to  the  location  an  ap- 
pellation which  they  regarded  as  reproachful,  but  which  custom 
adopted  and  kept  in  use  for  many  decades.  This  is  the  traditionary 
story  of  the  origin  of  the  name,  Goose  Corner.  The  term  was, 
however,  complimentary  rather  than  otherwise,  as  it  indicated  the 
existence  in  the  neighborhood  of  a  small  but  profitable  industry. 
The  goose  at  that  time  was  the  only  fowl  that  was  bred  with 
profit.  The  domestic  hen  poorly  sheltered  and  meagerly  fed,  in 
the  cold  season  produced  little.  In  the  summer  some  eggs  and  a 
few  chickens  were  furnished  for  the  farmers'  table,  but  little  effort 
was  made  to  obtain  them  for  marketing.  The  turkey,  which  in 
after  times  was  very  highly  prized  as  a  farm  product,  could  not 
then  be  profitably  reared  on  account  of  its  rambling  propensities, 
which  rendered  it  an  easy  prey  to  furred  marauders. 

The  goose,  however,  securing  a  large  portion  of  its  food  by  its 
own  industry,  netted  as  much  comparative  profit  as  any  domestic 
animal.  With  the  proceeds  of  the  flock  the  wife  obtained  for  her- 
self and  daughters  many  of  the  extras  for  their  wardrobe,  and 
probably  among  the  descendants  of  the  old  families  can  still  be 
found  cherished  heirlooms,  a  pillow  of  down  or  a  string  of  gold 
beads.  Sometimes  when  the  inexorable  rate-gatherer  made  his 
annual  call,  the  husband  shared  in  the  distribution.  While 
throughout  Christendom  the  goose  remains  the  most  highly  prized 
festal  bird  and  an  indispensable  requisite  of  the  Christmas  dinner, 
it  merits  no  sneering  allusion. 

The  Cqpj)  Tavern  is  now  the  property  of  William  B.  Randall, 
who  has  made  important  changes  in  its  structure.  It  is  now  oc- 
cupied as  a  summer  boarding-house,  and  the  locality  is  kno\vn  as 
Kendall's  Corner.  The  stir  of  former  years  may  never  come  to 
this  neighborhood,  but  it  affords  for  residents  of  greater  activities 


192 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


pleasant  and  healthful  retreats  in  the  summer  season.  The  love 
of  literature  which  characterized  former  generations  still  con- 
tinues, and  some  of  the  present  dwellers  can  wield  a  facile  pen. 
The  erection  of  Starlight  Hall  evinced  the  tastes  of  the  inhabi- 
tants. 

About  this  time  a  few  roads  necessary  for  the  convenience  of 
the  inhabitants  and  the  development  of  the  town  were  opened. 

Here  follows  a  description  of  them : — 

"Oct.  9,  1779.  This  day  spotted  a  road  two  rods  wide  from  the 
Mills  thro1  lots  seventeen  and  eighteen,  running  nearly  a  straight 
course  to  the  road  called  the  College  Road  leading  to  the  northerly 
part  of  Said  Town,  Said  Road  being  laid  out  agreeably  to  a  vote 
of  the  town. 

Given  under  our  hands  the  day  and  year  above  written. 

Henry  Rust  -\ 

Ebenezer  Meder        >  Selectmen" 

Matthew  S.  Parker  ) 

The  road  began  at  the  northerly  end  of  the  sawmill,  and  ran 
between  Joseph  P.  Heath's  store  and  William  B.  Hodge's 
dwelling-house,  and  so  on  south  of  the  town  meeting-house  lot 
along  the  shore  of  Lake  Wentworth  past  V.  B.  Willey's  mill  to  the 
residence  of  Harry  Smith. 

"Nov.  25,  1779.  This  day  laid  out  a  road  three  rods  wide  from 
the  Main  Road  leading  through  said  town  between  land  owned 
by  James  Lucas  3rd  and  the  land  owned  by  the  mill  proprietors 
taking  two  rods  out  of  the  last  mentioned  land  and  one  out  of 
Lucas'  until  it  reaches  the  heath  lying  and  being  in  the  Mill  prop- 
erty then  crossing  said  heath  nearly  in  a  straight  line  and  con- 
tinuing to  the  Mills  Said  road  laid  out  in  pursuance  of  a  vote  of 
the  town. 

Ebenezer  Meder          ) 

>    selectmen 
Matthew  S.  Parker     > 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


193 


This  road  ran  until  it  reached  the  Brick  Schoolhouse  Hill,  over 
which  it  passed  near  the  Thompson  house,  and  beyond  where  the 
road-bed  is  stiil  well  defined  to  Smith's  River  at  the  foot  of  the 
sawmill.  Subsequently  the  road  was  changed  somewhat,  passing 
above  the  dam  and  crossing  the  river  where  now  the  Wolfe- 
borough  railroad  crosses,  and  running  south  of  Heath's  store. 

Later  the  road  was  again  altered,  leaving  its  former  course  near 
the  foot  of  the  Brick  Schoolhouse  Hill,  taking  its  present  course 
south  of  the  mill-pond.  The  bridging  of  the  morass  was  quite  an 
undertaking  on  account  of  the  impoverished  condition  of  the  in- 
habitants and  the  pressing  demands  of  the  war,  but  it  was  at  last 
accomplished,  being  in  part  done  by  voluntary  labor  instead  of  in- 
creased taxation,  the  parties  working  being  reimbursed  the  follow- 
ing year  by  abatements  of  taxes.  The  corduroy  was  constructed 
of  very  heavy  timber.  Nearly  a  century  elapsed  before  it  was  all 
unearthed.  Notwithstanding  the  inhabitants  of  Wolfeborough 
had  constructed  highways  within  the  limits  of  the  town  for  their 
accommodation,  there  had  not  as  yet  been  any  road  opened  south 
of  it.  Some  time  during  this  year  (1780)  the  legislature  of  New 
Hampshire  had  authorized  Matthew  S.  Parker  and  an  associate 
to  appoint  in  unincorporated  places  selectmen  to  assess  taxes. 
The  same  year  the  legislature,  on  petition  of  Jonathan  Moulton, 
proprietor  of  Moultonborough,  passed  an  act  authorizing  the  ap- 
pointed selectmen  of  New__Durham  Gore  (now  Alton)  to  lay  out 
and  open  a  road  from  Merry  Meeting  Bay  to  Wolfeborough,  and 
also  one  from  the  same  place  to  Gilmanton,  and  assess  the  in- 
habitants of  the  Gore  for  the  cost  of  constructing  the  same.  The 
selectmen  neglected  to  act  in  the  matter,  and  July  4,  1781,  the 
legislature  passed  an  act  appointing  Matthew  S.  Parker,  Esq.,  of 
Wolfeborough,  Col.  Bradbury  Richardson,  of  Moultonborough, 
and  Daniel  Bedee,  Esq.,  of  Sandwich,  a  committee  lay  out  and 
make  passable  such  roads,  and  the  said  committee,  in  case  it  be- 
came necessary,  were  authorized  to  levy  and  collect  taxes  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Gore  for  the  construction  of  the  same. 


194 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


It  is  quite  probable  the  building  of  these  roads  was  not  much 
longer  delayed,  and  that  Wolfeborough  had  thereafter  a  rough 
public  highway  to  Alton__Bay,  from  thence  to  Rochester  by  the 
road  built  in  1722,  and  to  Gilmanton  by  the  new  one  opened.  Be- 
yond that  town  roads  extended  to  Concord.  A  person  who  is 
familiar  with  "the  lay  of  the  land"  from  Wolfeborough  to  Gilman- 
ton will  not  be  surprised  at  the  reluctance  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  Gore  to  opening  a  road  more  than  fifteen  miles  in  length  over 
such  a  surface.  The  public  demand  for  such  a  highway,  however, 
rendered  the  sacrifice  imperative. 

The  history  of  these  old-time  roads  is  for  many  reasons  most 
interesting.  Ossipee  road,  because  of  its  importance  as  a  thor- 
oughfare, not  only  to  Wolfeborough,  but  to  the  county  and  even 
beyond,  is,  however,  entitled  to  considerable  attention. 

The  road  leading  from  Ossipee  Corner  to  Wolfeborough  Center 
was  laid  out  Xov.  9,  1866,  by  the  joint  action  of  the  selectmen 
of  the  town  of  \\  olfeborough  and  Ossipee  on  the  petition  of  the 
following  persons  ;  viz.,  John  L.  Peavey,  John  M.  Brackett,  Moses 
Varney,  George  W.  Sawyer,  Augustus  J.  Varney,  Isaiah  Wiggin, 
Thomas  Rust,  Alvah  Bickford,  John  K.  Steele,  Charles  F.  Parker, 
John  T.  Furber,  George  Y.  Furbur,  Joseph  L..  Xudd,  James  J. 
Randall,  Eleazer  D.  Barker,  Alpheus  Swett,  Alvah  S.  Libbey, 
John  R.  Swett,  George  Keniston,  Levi  T.  Haley,  J.  W.  Goodwin, 
Charles  H.  Jenness,  Richard  R.  Davis,  Charles  E.  Stackpole, 
Charles  H.  Hersey,  Lorenzo  Home,  Thomas  Britton,  John  L. 
Wiggin.  Alex.  H.  Durgin,  George  F.  Home,  E.  W.  Ricker, 
George  F.  Jenness,  Sylvester  F.  Twombly,  Charles  P.  Rendall, 
William  B.  Rendall,  Henry  Lucas,  James  Bresnehan,  George  H. 
Wiggin,  Joseph  Yarney,  ^Daniel  Home,  John  B.  Waklron,  of 
Wolfeborough,  Joseph  Q.  Roles,  Sanborn  B.  Carter,  Isaac  Thurs- 
ton,  John  C.  Bickford,  Loammi  Hardy,  George  W.  Tibbetts, 
Rufus  F.  Stillings,  William  H.  Dame,  Luther  Young,  John  Clark, 
of  Ossipee. 

The  bcariners  and  distances  were  as  follows : — 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


195 


Commencing  at  the  intersection  of  the  two  roads  leading  from 
Ossipee  Corner  to  Water  Village  near  the  dwelling  of  Loammi  Hardy 
and  running  over  the  Pitman  road  (so  called)  fifty-seven  rods,  thence 
south  nine  degrees  west  one  rod  from  the  center  of  the  road  to  land  of 
Elisha  P.  Allen,  thence  same  course  five  rods  over  land  of  said  Allen  to 
land  of  Joshua  Brooks,  thence  same  course  twenty  rods  over  land  of  said 
Brooks  to  a  stake,  thence  south  sixteen  degrees  west  forty  rods  over  land 
of  said  Brooks  to  a  stake,  thence  south  twenty-five  degrees  west  thirty-six 
rods  twelve  and  one-half  links  over  land  of  said  Brooks  to  a  maple 
tree,  thence  south  thirty-nine  degrees  west  four  rods  over  land  of  said 
Brooks  to  land  of  the  heirs  of  Asa  Pitman,  thence  south  thirty-seven 
and  one-half  degrees  west  twenty-eight  rods  over  land  of  said  heirs  to  a 
stake,  thence  south  forty-two  degrees  west  forty  rods  over  land  of  said 
heirs  to  a  stake,  thence  south  forty-six  degrees  west  thirty  rods  over 
land  of  said  heirs  to  land  of  Luther  Young,  thence  same  course  four 
rods  twelve  and  one-half  links  over  land  of  said  Young  to  a  stake, 
thence  south  fifty  degrees  west  twenty-two'  rods  twenty  links  over  land 
of  said  Young  to  land  of  said  heirs  of  Asa  Pitman,  thence  same  course 
fifty-four  rods  over  land  of  said  heirs  to  a  stake,  thence  south  sixty- 
four  degrees  west  twenty-six  rods  over  land  of  said  heirs  to  a  stake, 
thence  south  sixty-six  degrees  west  forty-two  rods  twelve  and  one-half 
links  over  land  of  said  heirs  to  land  of  Loammi  Hardy,  thence  same 
course  twenty-two  rods  over  land  of  said  Hardy  to  Wolfeborough  town 
line  and  land  of  John  Tebbetts,  Jr.,  thence  south  fifty  degrees  west 
twelve  rods  over  land  of  said  Tebbetts  to  a  stake,  thence  south  thirty- 
six  and  one-half  degrees  west  eight  rods  twelve  and  one-half  links  over 
land  of  said  Tebbetts  to  a  birch  tree,  thence  south  thirty  nine  degrees 
west  eight  rods  over  land  of  said  Tebbetts  to  a  birch  tree,  thence  south 
fifty-four  and  one-half  degrees  west  twelve  rods  over  land  of  said  Teb- 
betts to  a  stake,  thence  south  forty-one  degrees  west  thirteen  rods  twelve 
and  one-half  links  over  land  of  said  Tebbetts  to  a  stake,  thence  south 
fifty-three  and  one-half  degrees  west  seventeen  rods  ten  links  over  land 
of  said  Tebbetts  to  a  stake,  thence  south  thirty-six  and  one-half  degrees 
west  eleven  rods  over  land  of  said  Tebbetts  to  land  of  Mrs.  Clarissa 
Merrill,  thence  south  forty  degrees  west  nine  rods  over  land  of  said  Mrs. 
Merrill  to  land  of  Thomas  Nute  and  A.  J.  Drew,  thence  same  course 
seven  rods  over  land  of  said  Nute  and  Drew  to  a  stake,  thence  south 
twenty-nine  and  one-half  degrees  west  fifteen  rods  eight  links  to  land 
of  W.  P.  Home,  thence  south  twenty-one  degrees  west  twelve  rods  over 
land  of  said  W.  P.  Hcrne  to  a  stake,  thence  south  sixteen  and  one-half 
degrees  west  eight  rods  twelve  and  one-half  links  over  land  of  W.  P. 
Home  to  a  stake,  thence  south  forty-eight  and  one-half  degrees  west 
fifteen  rods  twelve  and  one-half  links  over  land  of  said  W.  P.  Home 
to  land  of  said  Nute  and  Drew,  thence  south  thirty-four  degrees  west 


196 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


nine  rods  over  land  of  said  Nute  and  Drew  to  land  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Nute, 
thence  south  thirty-seven  degrees  west  seventeen  rods  twelve  and  one- 
half  links  over  land  of  said  Nute  to  a  white  birch  tree,  thence  south 
twenty-six  and  one-half  degrees  west  ten  rods  twelve  and  one-half  links 
over  land  of  said  Nute  to  a  stake,  thence  south  forty  and  one-half  de- 
grees west  ten  rods  twelve  and  one-half  links  over  land  of  said  Mrs. 
Nute  to  a  stake,  thence  south  fifty-one  degrees  west  fourteen  rods  twelve 
and  one-half  links  over  land  of  said  Nute  to  a  stake,  thence  south  eighty- 
three  degrees  west  nineteen  rods  over  land  of  said  Nute  to  a  stake, 
thence  north  eighty-six  degrees  west  seven  rods  nine  links  over  land  of 
said  Nute  to  land  of  said  W.  P.  Home,  thence  same  course  forty-one 
rods  twelve  and  one-half  links  over  land  of  said  Home  to  the  south 
end  of  a  stone  wall  in  the  field,  thence  north  eighty-four  degrees  west 
thirty  rods  over  land  of  said  Home  to  the  road  leading  by  the  dwelling 
house  of  said  Home,  thence  same  course  west  three  rods  over  said  road 
to  land  of  John  E.  Abbott,  thence  south  seventy-four  degrees  west 
twenty  rods  over  land  of  said  Abbott  to  a  stake,  thence  south  eighty- 
five  and  one-half  degrees  west  twenty-four  rods  over  land  of  said  Abbott 
to  a  maple  tree,  thence  north  seventy-seven  degrees  west  seven  rods 
over  land  of  said  Abbott  to  the  road  leading  from  Wolfeborough  by 
Water  Village  to  Tuftonborough,  thence  same  course  four  rods  twelve 
and  one-half  links  across  said  road  to  land  of  Andrew  B.  Tebbetts, 
thence  south  eighty-four  and  one-half  degrees  west  eighty-one  rods  over 
land  of  said  Tebbetts  to  a  stake,  thence  south  sixty-five  and  one-half 
degrees  west  seventeen  rods  over  land  of  said  Tebbetts  to  land  of  Joseph 
R.  Haines,  thence  same  course  twenty  rods  over  land  of  said  Haines  to 
land  of  James  Young,  thence  same  course  ten  rodg  seventeen  links  over 
land  of  said  Young  to  a  stake,  thence  south  sixty-three  and  three-fourths 
degrees  west  forty-four  rods  over  land  of  said  Young  to  a  stake,  thence 
south  fifty-one  and  one-half  degrees  west  twenty-seven  rods  twelve  and 
one-half  links  over  land  of  said  Young  to  land  of  James  Bickford, 
thence  south  thirty-one  degrees  west  twenty-six  rods  twelve  and  one-half 
links  over  land  of  said  Bickford  to  a  stake,  thence  south  thirteen  de- 
grees west  fourteen  rods  over  land  of  said  Bickford,  to  land  of  William 
T.  Dorr,  thence  same  course  forty-seven  rods  over  land  of  said  Dorr  to 
a  stake,  thence  south  seventeen  and  one-half  degrees  west  forty-two  rods 
over  land  of  said  Dorr  to  a  stake,  thence  south  one  and  one-half  degrees 
east  forty-five  rods  over  land  of  said  Dorr  to  land  of  John  K.  Pike  and 
Albert  Bennett,  thence  south  fifteen  degrees  east  thirty-six  rods  nine 
links  over  land  of  said  Pike  and  Bennett  to  a  stake,  thence  south  nine 
degrees  east  nineteen  rods  over  land  of  said  Pike  and  Bennett  to  a  stake, 
thence  south  fifteen  and  one-half  degrees  east  twenty  rods  twelve  and 
one-half  links  over  land  of  said  Pike  and  Bennett  to  land  of  Isaac  Wil- 
ley,  thence  same  course  nineteen  rods  seven  links  over  land  of  said  Wil- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  197 

ley  to  a  stake,  thence  south  seven  degrees  east  twenty-eight  rods  ten 
links  over  land  of  said  Willey  to  land  of  Levi  Philbrick,  thence  south 
seven  degrees  west  twelve  rods  sixteen  links  over  land  of  said  Philbrick 
to  land  of  Joseph  R.  Haines,  thence  same  course  ten  rods  twenty  links 
over  land  of  said  Haines  to  a  stake,  thence  south  four  degrees  east  six 
rods  six  links  over  land  of  said  Haines  ta  a  stake,  thence  same  course 
three  rods  twelve  and  one-half  links  over  land  of  said  Haines  to  a  birch 
tree,  thence  south  nine  degrees  west  three  rods  seventeen  links  over  land 
of  said  Haines  to  a  small  spruce  tree,  thence  south  forty-two  degrees 
west  nine  rods  six  links  over  land  of  said  Haines  to  a  hemlock  tree, 
thence  south,  thirty-four  degrees  west  eight  rods  four  links  over  land  of 
said  Haines  to  a  stake,  thence  south  sixteen  and  one-half  degrees  east 
nine  rods  twenty  links  over  land  of  said  Haines  to  a  hemlock  stump, 
thence  south  seven  degrees  east  seven  rods  twelve  and  one-half  links  to 
a  spruce  tree,  thence  south  forty-six  degrees  east  six  rods  four  links  over 
land  of  said  Haines  to  land  of  said  Albert  Bennett,  thence  same  course 
one  rod  and  nine  links  over  land  of  said  Bennett  to  a  maple  tree,  thence 
south  thirty  degrees  east  seven  rods  twenty  links  over  land  of  said  Ben- 
nett to  a  cherry  tree,  thence  south  ten  degrees  east  eleven,  rods  twelve 
and  one-half  links  over  land  of  said  Bennett  to  a  maple  tree,  thence 
south  one  degree  east  eight  rods  over  land  of  said  Bennett  to  a  stake, 
thence  south  seventeen  and  three-fourths  degrees  west  sixty  rods  over 
land  of  said  Bennett  to  the  mill  road,  thence  south  nine  degrees  west 
one  rod  twelve  and  one-half  links  across  the  mill  road  to  land  of  Isaac 
Willey,  thence  same  course  seventy-six  rods  over  land  of  said  Willey  to 
land  of  John  J.  Chamberlain,  thence  same  course  seventeen  rods  over 
land  of  said  Chamberlain  to  the  road  leading  by  the  town  house  in  said 
Wolfeborough  and  at  a  point  in  the  road  thirteen  rods  northeasterly  of 
the  dwelling-house  of  Sally  Nute,  thence!  over  the  road  from  said  Sally 
Nute's  dwelling-house  leading  from  Dimon's  Corner  in  Wolfeborough  to 
Wolfeborough  Bridge  in  said  Wolfeborough  five  hundred  and  fifty-one 
and  one-half  rods  to  a  hub  in  said  road  opposite  the  town  house  in  said 
Wolfeborough. 

The  line  above  described  is  to  be  the  middle  of  the  highway,  and 
the  highway  is  to  be  four  rods  wide  with  the  exception  of  fifty- 
seven  rods  on  the  Pitman  road  in  said  Ossipee  above  referred  to 
and  five  hundred  sixty-four  and  one-half  rods  on  the  road  leading 
from  Dimon's  Corner  in  Wolfeborough  to  Wolfeborough  Bridge 
in  said  Wolfeborough  as  above  described,  and  which  two  said 
pieces  of  road  are  to  be  as  they  now  are. 


I0£  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Following  is  the  award  of  land  damages : — 

"We,  the  selectmen  of  Ossipee  and  Wolfeborough,  acting  joint- 
ly do  award  to  the  owners  of  land  taken  for  said  highway  on  said 
route  the  following  sums  to  be  paid  by  said  towns  respectively : 

Elisha  Allen  of  Ossipee $50.00 

Joshua  Brooks  of  Ossipee 427.12 

Luther  Young  of  Ossipee 27.00 

Ann  Pitman  of  Ossipee 385.75 

Loanimi  Hardy  of  Ossipee 22.00 

John  Tebbetts  of  Wolfeborough 69.50 

Clarissa  Merrill  of  Wolfeborough 21.50 

Thomas  Nute  and  Andrew  Drew  of  Wolfeborough 35-22 

Sarah  M.  Xute  of  Wolfeborcugh §9-36 

Woodbury  P.  Home  and  A.  A.  Home  of  Wolfeborough.  252.12 

John  E.  Abbott  of  Wolfeborough 147.00 

Andrew'  B.  and  John  Tebbetts  of  Wolfeborough 229.50 

Joseph  R.  Haines  of  Wolfeborough 1 16.37 

James  and  Charles  W.  Young  of  Wolfeborough 184.96 

James  Bickford  of  Wolfeborough 70.00 

William  T.  and  Nancy  H.  Dorr  of  Wolfeborough 368.50 

John  K.  Pike  and  Albert  Bennett  of  Wolfeborough.  . .  .  75-OO 

Isaac  Willey  of  Wolfeborough 222.46 

Levi  Philbrick  of  Wolfeborough 28.45 

Albert  Bennett  of  Wolfeborough 198.45 

John  J.  Chamberlain  of  Wolfeborough 40.37 


Land  damages $2,030.26 

The  distance  of  road  laid  out  in  Ossipee,  including  the  Pitman 
road  fifty-seven  rods,  is  four  hundred  and  thirty-two  rods.  The 
distance  in  Wolfeborough  from  the  town  line  to  Water  Milage 
road  is  three  hundred  and  seventy-four  rods,  and  from  that  point 
to  the  intersection  of  the  road  leading  from  Wolfeborough  to 
North  Wolfeborough  seven  hundred  and  sixty-four  rods.  The 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  igy 

distance  from  the  site  of  the  former  town  meeting-house  in  Wolfe- 
borough  to  the  present  meeting-house  at  Ossipee  Corner  is  almost 
precisely  seven  miles,  while  the  newly  constructed  road  connecting 
the  two  towns  wants  only  eighty-seven  rods  of  being  five  miles. 

The  principal  road  laid  out  since  1800  are  as  follows : — 

Mill  road,  3  rods,  1863.  Endicott  Street,  25  feet,  1865,  and  in 
1867  widened  to  30  feet.  Road  near  I.  W.  Cotton's,  2  rods  ,1866. 
Road  from  North  Wolfeborough  burying-ground  to  Avery's,  3 
rods,  1869.  Branch  Dimon's  Corner  road,  4  rods,  1871.  Road 
from  Mill  Street  to  old  Bassett  place,  1876.  Glendon  Street,  21-2 
rods,  1877.  Road  from  Stockbridge  Corner  to  Water  Village  and 
Tuftonborough,  3  rods,  1841.  Neck  road,  2  rods,  1836.  Road 
connecting  Main  and  Pine  Hill  roads,  over  portions  of  Mill  and 
Bay  Streets,  21-2  rods,  1860.  Shepherd  road  widened  to  two  rods 
in  1836.  Road  from  watering-trough  in  Wolfeborough  Falls 
widened  to  three  rods  in  1836.  Road  from  Libbey's  to  Stock- 
bridge  Corner  straightened  and  widened  to  three  rods  in  1831. 
Road  from  John  Home's  to  John  Horne,  Jr.'s,  1831.  Cross  road 
between  South  Wrolfeborough  and  Pleasant  Valley  roads,  3  rods, 
1831.  Road  known  as  Whitton  road,  connecting  the  Farm  and 
Pequaket  roads,  2  rods,  1831.  Farm  road  laid  out  in  1806. 
Sawyer  road,  1825.  David  Chamberlain  road,  1825.  Green  Street, 
37  1-2  feet,  1873.  Road  from  Bay  Street  to  Davis  house,  2  rods, 
1876.  Mirror  Lake  road,  3  rods,  1873.  Lake  Street,  2  rods,  1853. 
Sewall  Street,  2  1-2  rods,  1898.  Oak  Street,  2  rods,  1881.  Rail- 
road Avenue.  30  feet,  1887.  Libbey  Street,  23-25  feet,  1893. 
Union  Street,  30-37  feet,  1891.  Pine  Street,  2  1-2  rods,  1888. 
School  Street,  2  rods,  1884.  Pleasant  Street,  2  1-2  rods,  1881. 
Factory  Street,  3  rods,  1883.  Willow  Street,  3  rods,  1863.  River 
Street,  —  rods.  Forest  Street,  Neck  road,  2  rods,  1820.  Silver 
Street,  1844.  Beatrice  Street,  40  feet,  1891.  Mill  Street,  2  1-2 
rods,  1860.  Sewall  Street  extension  now  building. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

MIDDLETON — NICHOLAS  AUSTIN  BECOMES  BUMPTIOUS — PETITION 
FOR  NEW  TOWN — REMONSTRANCE — SECOND  PETITION — 
SECOND  REMONSTRANCE — PARKER'S  BILL — ROAD  TO  MID- 
DLET®N — INTERESTING  CORRESPONDENCE  ON  THE  MATTER — 
PETITION  FROM  CITIZENS  OF  OSSIPEE — BRISTOL — WOLFE- 
BOROUGH  ADDITION — ACTION  OF  SELECTMEN  ON  PETITION 
— ALTON  AND  TUFTONBOROUGH  ANNEXATIONS. 

THE  town  of  Middleton  consisted  of  two  parts,  the  southern  and 
more  important  called  the  "First  Division, "and  the  northern, 
which  adjoined  Wolfeborough,  the  "Second  Division."  Separat- 
ing these,  was  a  range  of  high  hills,  impassable  by  ordinary  means, 
so  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  latter  division  were  compelled  to 
travel  through  other  towns  to  reach  the  more  important  part  of 
their  own.  This  inconvenience  and  the  intimate  neighborhood 
relations  existing  between  the  inhabitants  of  eastern  Wolfe- 
borough  and  the  "Second  Division"  of  Middleton  led  to  the  en- 
deavor to  unite  the  two  sections  in  one  town. 

The  leader  of  the  movement  was  Nicholas  Austin,  whose  resi- 
dence, since  known  as  the  Hodge  house,  was  at  the  terminus  of 
the  early  road  that  led  to  the  Governor  Wentworth  Farm.  Austin 
was  a  capable  man,  but  had  a  somewhat  unsavory  reputation  on 
account  of  clandestinely  procuring  workmen  to  assist  in  building 
barracks  for  General  Gage's  soldiers  in  1775 :  for  this  the  patriots 
constrained  him  to  make  the  amende  honorable.  He  was  very 
ambitious,  and  evidently  desired  to  secure  the  organization  of  a 
municipality  over  which  he  should  have  a  controlling  influence. 

Here  follows  the  petition  for  the  new  town : — 

"To  the  Honorable  the  Council  and  House  of  Representatives 
sitting  at  Exeter — 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  2OI 

The  Petition  of  the  Subscribers  Inhabitants  of  the  Towns  of 
Wolfborough  and  Middleton  Humbly  Shews — 

That,  your  petitioners  from  Wolf  borough  are  put  to  great  In- 
conveniencies  in  transacting  Town  Business  by  reason  of  a  very 
large  pond  which  lays  between  them  and  the  place  of  holding  their 
Meetings — 

That,  your  petitioners  from  Middleton  (Inhabitants  of  the  Sec- 
ond Division)  are  subjected  to  as  great  Inconveniences  by  reason 
of  the  great  Distance  they  live  from  the  place  of  holding  their 
Meetings  and  the  Badness  of  the  Roads  which  for  a  great  part  of 
the  Year  are  almost  impassable — 

TJial,  the  Eastermost  part  of  said  Wolf  borough  and  the  Sec- 
ond Division  of  said  Middleton  are  well  calculated  for  a  Town- 
ship— Your  petitioners  therefore  pray  that  the  said  two  Tracts  of 
Land  may  be  annexed  and  erected  into  a  Distinct  and  seperate 
Town  by  such  Metes  &  Bounds  as  your  Honors  shall  order — and 
as  in  Duty  bound  your  petitioners  will  pray  &c 

Nicholas  austin  Peter  Stellings  John  Palmer 

Benjamin  Clay  moses  Perkins  Wolf  borough 

Josiah  Robinson  wellaim  Wile  Robert  Calder 

Stephen  Lyford  Ezekiel  Sanborn  William  Cotton 

Jonathan  Clay  Josiah  Wiggin  Joseph  Leavitt 

Bartholomew  Richards   Samuel  Tibbetts  James  Sheafe 

Jedidiah  Drew  Joseph  Wille  Jonathan  Lang 

David  Durgin  Isaac  Drew  John  Costelloe" 

Daniel  Croxford  John  Fornel 

Ebzer  Bennett  Simon  Dearborn 

The  same  month  the  following  remonstrating  petition  was  pre- 
sented to  the  legislature  : — 

"The  petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  south  west  part  of  the 
Town  of  Wolf  borough — 

Humbly  Sheweth — 

That  your  petitioners  were  unexpectedly  Notified  of  a  petition 


202  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUQH. 

being  preferred  to  this  Honorable  Court  in  the  Course  of  their 
Last  Session  at  Concord,  by  a  small  number  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
said  Wolfboro'  living  on  the  Northeasterly  side  of  said  Town  (in 
Conjunction  with  the  Inhabitants  of  the  second  Division  of 
Middletown  containing  about  thirty  Families)  for  the  purpose  of 
Dividing  said  Towns,  in  Order  to  Erect  a  New  Township — the 
prayer  whereof  your  petitioners  humbly  conceive  (as  well  as  the 
Inhabitants  of  the  first  division  of  said  Middletown)  to  be  ex- 
ceeding unreasonable  for  the  Reasons  following — (viz)  First,  Be- 
cause the  whole  Number  of  Families  now  living  in  said  Wolf- 
boro', does  not  Exceed  Forty  five,  &  those  in  Middletown  about 
twice  that  Number,  so  that  to  divide  two  such  small  Number  of 
Inhabitants  to  make  three  Towns  would  be  very  injurious  &  ex- 
pensive to  said  Inhabitants  as  well  as,  the  Community  at  large, 
as  they  cannot  be  Benefited  at  present  by  being  annexed  to  any 
other  Town — 

That  the  whole  Town  of  Wolfborough  together,  are  poorly  able 
to  support  proper  Town  Government  &  Order,  &  by  Reason  of 
their  low  Circumstances  &  the  difficulty  of  the  late  Times  have 
never  been  able  to  settle  a  Minister  of  the  Gospel,  or  even  to  hire 
Necessary  schooling  for  their  Children,  and  now  to  cut  off  a  quar- 
ter or  one-third  of  said  Inhabitants  would  entirely  disenable  & 
even  Obliterate  all  prospect  of  enjoying  such  a  Blessing  for  a 
long  time  to  Come,  as  there  are  not  any  near  settlements  in  the 
Towns  adjoining  to  be  united  to  us,  and  but  little  prospects  of 
there  being  any  at  present  as  the  Lands  are  held  by  the  Pro- 
prietors in  large  Bodies  &  not  to  be  obtain'd  without  a  large  price 
being  given  therefor — 

Secondly — That  though  the  Inhabitants  may  not  exceed  the 
Number  above  mentioned,  who  have  petitioned  for  the  separation, 
Yet  that  part  of  the  Land  they  would  be  glad  to  have  set  off  is 
above  one  half  in  Value  as  to  the  quality,  of  the  whole  Town, 
the  Middle  part  being  exceeding  poor  and  very  little  thereof  suit- 
able for  settlements — 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


203 


Thirdly — That  your  petitioners  mostly  live  on  one  direct  Road 
thro'  the  southwest  part  of  said  Town  adjoining  to  Winnepiseokee 
Lake  &  the  land  on  said  Road  for  one  Miles  Distance  from  said 
Lake  being  wholly  taken  up  (which  contains  in  a  manner  all  the 
land  upon  that  Quarter  suitable  for  settlements)  they  cannot  be 
Benefited  by  any  more  or  at  least  but  very  few  settlers  there,  and 
few  Inhabitants  living  in  the  Towns  adjoining  under  the  Distance 
of  Eight  or  Ten  Miles  &  those  very  Scattering  that  the  prospects 
of  any  Benefit  from  a  Connection  with  them  at  Present  is  entirely 
Chimerical — 

Lastly — That  however  practicable  such  a  Division  may  be  in 
some  future  Day  when  those  Towns  become  Inhabited,  that  a 
Division  would  be  exceeding  injurious  for  the  Reasons  already 
Suggested  which  contain  plain  matters  of  fact,  and  indeed  would 
totally  compleat  for  a  long  space  of  Time  the  Ruin  of  two  Towns 
to  build  up  one,  &  which  if  effected  would  not  accommodate  so 
many  persons  as  it  would  injure,  &  only  serve  to  gratify  the  Am- 
bition of  two  or  three  Designing  persons  who  would  be  glad 
perhaps  (_in  this  Case)  to  advance  themselves  tho'  at  the  same 
time  their  Neighbors  should  be  injured,  which  would  verily  be 
the  case,  if  their  Prayer  should  be  granted — As  to  their  great  Ob- 
jection they  make  of  having  so  far  to  travel  to  the  Annual  Meeting 
of  said  Town  they  have  never  once  ask'd  or  desired,  to  have  the 
Meeting  held  over  upon  that  quarter,  which  if  they  had,  would 
have  been  readily  granted,  tho'  then  but  very  few  of  them  would 
be  Benifited  thereby,  as  they  live  so  Scattering — 

There/ore  your  Petitioners  humbly  conceive,  that  the  prayer 
of  their  Petition  appears  at  present  to  be  so  unreasonable  that 
your  Honours  will  not  so  greatly  injure  the  Majority  of  two  Towns 
of  your  peaceable  Subjects  only  to  gratify  the  Ambition  of  a  few 
Individuals  by  granting  the  prayer  thereof  but  will  of  course  dis- 
miss the  same,  &  in  so  doing,  as  in  Duty  Bound  your  Petitioners 
will  ever  pray  &c  &c. 

Wolf  borough  June  1785 — 


204 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Benjamen  Blake 
Jeremiah  Gould 
John  Home 
Benj :  Evens 
Lemuel  Clifford 
Henry  Rust 
Matthew  S.  Parker 
Ebenezer  Home 
Andrew  Lucas 
James  Lucas  Jr 
James  Connor 


John  Fullerton 
Ebenezer  Meder 
Jonathan  Harsey 
John  Lucas 
Henry  Rust  Jun 
Richard  Rust 
Jacob  Smith 
James  Fullerton 
Enoch  Thomas 
Samuel  Tibbets 
Jonathan  Chase 


John  Lary 
Joseph  Lary 
Thomas  piper 
John  Piper 
Ithiel  Clifford 
Andrew  Wiggin 
James  Wiggin 
Benjamin  Wiggin 
Stephen  Home 
Isaiah  Home 
Ebenezer  Home  Jr 


In  the  House  of  Representatives,  June  10,  1785,  a  committee, 
consisting  of  Ebenezer  Smith,  of  Meredith,  Daniel  Beede,  of  Sand- 
wich, and  Moses  Baker,  of  Campton,  was  appointed  to  investigate 
and  report  at  the  next  session.  They  reported  as  follows  : — 

"State  of  New  Hampshire 
To  the  Honorable  the  House  of  Representatives 

We  the  Subscribers  Pursuant  to  our  appointment  having  Repaired  to 
Wolf  borough  &  midleton  &  haveing  fully  Vewed  Said  towns  find  the 
Situation  of  Wolfsborough  to  be  such  as  will  not  admit  of  a  division 
without  great  inconveniances  &  hurt  to  said  town.  We  have  also 
Viewed  the  town  of  midleton  &  find  the  Situation  thereof  Such  that 
there  is  no  Passing  from  one  end  thereof  unto  the  other  with  out 
goingoutof  the  Limits  thereof  to  get  round  a  mountain  Which  makes 
it  exceemng  dificult  for  the  Inhabatance  to  meet  together  on  any 
ocasion  And  the  Inhabatance  of  Wolfsborough  have  fixed  upon  a 
Place  to  Sit  their  meeting  house  &  hold  their  Public  town  Meetings 
as  near  the  center  of  said  Wolfsborough  with  two  miles  of  the  North- 
east end  of  Midleton  if  annexed  thereto  which  Place  is  on  the  West- 
erly Side  of  Lot  No.  4,  and  about  thirty  rods  Northerly  of  Smiths 
Pond  Which  the  Inhabatance  of  Wolf  borough  with  the  Agents  of  the 
Petisioners  of  the  Northeasterly  end  of  midleton  have  agreed  to  have 
established  by  the  act  of  Incorporation  if  it  Should  be  the  Courts 
Pleasure  to  Pass  an  act  to  Incorporate  any  Part  of  midleton  with 
Wolfsborough  We  therefore  recommend  it  Conveniant  for  four  ranges 
of  Lots  or  more  which  contain  about  one  mile  each  of  the  Northeast 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


205 


end  of  midletown  to  b«  annexed  to  Wolfsborough  if  Prayed  for  by 
Such  Part  of  Midletown — 

Wolf  borough  October  7th  1785 

Ebenezer  Smitn    \ 
Daniel^Beede          I  Committee." 
Moses  Baker 

Subsequently  Austin  presented  a  second  petition  : — 

"State  of 

New  Hampshire 

To  the  honorable  Senate  and  house  of  Repre- 
sentatives in  General  Court  convened  at  Con- 
cord third  Wednesday  of  October  1785 — 

Humbly  shew  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Second  Division  of  Middle- 
town  in  the  County  of  Strafford  and  State  aforesaid,  that  they  are 
situated  at  great  distance  from  the  place  of  holding-  the  public 
Meetings  in  said  Town,  prevented  from  going  to  the  other  part 
of  the  Town  where  most  of  the  Inhabitants  live,  without  travelling 
into  another  Town  first,  throvigh  Roads  almost  impassable  for 
great  part  of  the  Year.  Your  Petitioners  being  so  circumstanced 
have  been  and  must  be  deprived  of  the  benifit  of  all  Town  Privi- 
ledges  in  Middleton  while  they  belong  thereto — that  as  your  Pe- 
titioners can  more  conveniently  attend  the  public  meetings  in 
Wolfborough  should  the  Meeting  House  there  be  built  at  the 
place  agreed  on — they  pray  that  they  may  be  annexed  from 
Middleton,  and  annexed  to  Wolfborough  or  otherwise  relieved 
from  their  present  grievance — And  your  Petitioners  as  in  duty 
bound  shall  ever  pray  &c. 

Nicholas  Austin  for  Petitioners" 

This  petition  was  followed  February,  1786,  by  a  remonstrance 
addressed  to  the  General  Court : — 

Humbly  Shew,  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Wolf  borough 
in  the  Countv  of  Strafford  &  State  aforesaid,  That  thev  were  verv 


2o6  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

unexpectedly  surprized  by  receiving  a  few  Days  since,  a  Copy  of 
a  Petition  signed  by  Nicholas  Austin  in  behalf  of  the  Settlers  of 
the  Second  Division  of  Middletown  with  the  order  of  Court  there- 
on, praying  that  the  said  second  Division  of  Middletown  might 
be  annexed  to  Wolf  borough 

Your  Petitioners  are  exceeding  sorry  that  thro'  the  restless 
Machinations  of  designing  Persons  they  should  be  drawn  into  the 
disagreeable  necessity  of  taking  up  your  Honours  time  upon  a 
Subject  they  thought  already  fix'd  and  Determined — Your 
Honors  will  perceive  by  the  Report  of  your  Committee  ye  last 
Sessions  at  Concord,  That,  the  Town  of  Wolf  boro'  was  well  situ- 
ated &  could  not  be  divided  without  great  injury,  and  we  dare  say 
had  this  plan  been  within  the  limits  of  their  Business,  they  would 
have  reported,  that,  such  an  addition  as  prayed  for  by  Friend 
Austin  would  be  as  injurious  to  more  than  three  fourths  of  the 
Inhabitants  as  a  Division  of  the  Town — Yet  notwithstanding  the 
inconvenience  of  a  Connection  at  all,  the  Agents  in  behalf  of 
Wolfborough  consented  that  two  Miles  of  Middletown  next  to 
Wolf  boro'  should  be  annexed  thereto  as  it  was  so  disavantageous 
for  them  to  tend  public  Business  in  their  own  Town,  conceiving 
that  the  lower  part  of  said  second  Division,  would  in  that  Case 
poll  off  to  \Vakefield,  as  Many  of  the  Settlers  living  on  said  Tract 
are  intermix!  as  it  were  with  those  of  that  Town,  &  as  was  pro- 
posed by  sundry  of  them — Such  a  connection  as  that  was  con- 
sented to  by  the  Agents  of  both  parties  in  the  presence  of  the 
Committee  as  they  reported,  and  as  your  Petitioners  thought 
would  have  been  a  Conclusion  of  the  matter  so  far  as  it  concerned 
them,  &  in  consequence  thereof  they  agreed  upon  a  place  for 
building  a  meeting  House,  not  thinking  that  after  said  Austin 
(as  Agent)  had  Consented  thereto  in  presence  of  the  Committee, 
would  have  been  so  dishonourable  as  to  have  attempted  any  thing 
further,  &  Mr  Cabbott  being  then  present  was  so  far  satisfied 
with  the  agreement  made  by  the  Agents  as  to  propose  the  place 
for  setting  a  Meeting  House  himself  &  accordingly  gave  his  word 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


207 


in  writing  for  a  lot  of  Land  for  the  purpose,  which  was  agreed 
by  all  parties  should  be  established  by  an  Act  of  Court  as  re- 
ported by  Ye  Committee — 

Now  if  in  Case  any  more  than  the  two  Miles  should  be  annexed 
to  Wolfborough,  it  would  be  the  means  of  sowing  such  seeds  of 
Discord  &  Dissention  in  the  Town  as  the  age  of  man  would  never 
see  ended — Therefore  your  Petitioners  humbly  beg  that  the 
prayer  of  said  Petition  may  not  be  granted — But  that  if  the  pro- 
posed Connection  will  not  satisfy  their  restles  Agent,  they  may 
be  continued  together  until  the  said  Division  becomes  sufficiently 
Inhabited  for  a  Town  or  Parish  by  themselves  which  will  no  doubt 
be  very  soon  when  perhaps  some  plan  may  be  tho't  of  for  the 
first  Division  of  said  Middletown,  which  if  at  present  separated 
will  approach  near  to  annihilation,  or  at  least  to  be  in  a  similar 
Situation  of  that  of  Ishmael  of  old,  having  every  mans  hand 
against  them,  as  to  any  connection — such  being  the  circumstances 
we  humble  pray  that  their  said  petition  may  be  demiss'd,  &  that  we 
may  be  left  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  our  Labour  under  our  Vines  & 
fig  Trees  unless  the  Agreement  already  made  will  satisfy  our  rest- 
less adversary,  whose  Conduct  has  already  too  clearly  appeared 
to  be  absorpt  in  selfish  principles — But  if  in  your  Wisdom  you 
should  think  proper  to  grant  the  prayer  of  their  petition,  we 
humbly  pray  that,  the  place  already  agreed  on  for  Building  the 
meeting  House  may  first  be  established  by  an  Act  of  Court,  other- 
wise the  Dissention  will  rise  to  a  great  height,  which  we  earnestly 
wish  may  be  avoided  by  the  Assistance  of  your  Honourable  Body 
— And  your  Petitioners  as  in  Duty  bound  will  ever  pray  &c — 

Wolf  borough  January  26th  1786 

Henry  Rust  Thomas  Piper  James  Connor 

Benjamin  Blake  John  Lary  Jacob  Smith 

David  Piper  thomas  Piper  Jr  Joseph  Lary 

Lemuel  Clifford  David  Blake  John  Shores 

Andrew  Lucas  Jonathan  Harsey  Matthew  S.  Parker 


208  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Enoch  thomas  William  Fullerton  Ebenezer  Home 

John  fullerton  John  Lucas  Ebenezer  Meder 

Samuel  Tebbetts  Henry  Rust  Jr  John  Home 

James  fullerton  Jeremiah  Gould  Ebenezer  Home  Jr 

Ithal  Clefard  Levi  Tibbets  Benjamin  Wiggin 

andrew  Wiggin  Ebenezer  Tibbets  Jonathan  Chase" 

Paul  Wiggin  John  Piper 

James  Wiggin  James  Lucas  Jr 

This  remonstrance  probably  ended  the  controversy.  It  is  not 
known  that  further  attempt  was  made  to  annex  the  "Second 
Division"  of  Middleton  to  Wolfeborough,  but  eight  years  after,  in 
1794,  this  territory  was  incorporated  as  a  separate  town  named 
Brookfield. 

Here  follows  a  copy  of  Parker's  bill  for  his  services  and  the  en- 
tertainment of  the  legislative  committee  : — 

"The  Town  Wolfborough  to  Matthew  S.  Parker  Dr 

To  Writing  2  Petitions  respecting  the  not  Dividing  the 

Town  @  6s 

To  2  Days  attending  the  General  Court  @  6s . 

To  2  Days  waiting  on  the  Committee  in  Wolfboro'  &  to 

Middletown  @  45 

To  Committee's  Expenses  at  my  House 


Lawfull  Money  £2 — 4 — o 
Writing  Warrants  &c    o — 4 — o 


£2_8_o 

Wolfboro'  March  27:  1786 
Errors  Excepted 

Matthew  S.  Parker" 

Notwithstanding  the  road  to   Merry   Meeting  Bay  had  been 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

—~y 

' 

opened,  it  was  such  a  hilly,  circuitous  way  to  reach  Rochester  and 
the  towns  south  of  it  that  the  inhabitants  of  Wolfeborough  and 
the  region  north  and  west  became  very  desirous  for  a  more  direct 
route  to  the  lower  towns.  Accordingly,  in  ^1785,  they  petitioned 
the  court  to  lay  out  a  road  through  parts  of  New  Durham  and 
Middleton.  This  petition  was  granted  so  far  as  to  appoint  a  com- 
mittee to  examine  the  proposed  route.  This  proved  to  be  much 
more  feasible  for  a  road  than  was  anticipated ;  for,  although  the 
region  was  somewhat  mountainous,  the  valleys  afforded  passes 
quite  convenient  for  a  highway.  A  road  was  laid  out.  Here  is  a 
copy  of  a  letter  from  the  selectmen  of  Wolfeborough  to  those  of 
Middleton  and  New  Durham  in  relation  to  the  matter: — 

"Wolfboro',  August  8th  1786 
Gentlemen 

In  pursuance  to  a  Petition  being  preferred  to  the  Quarter  Ses- 
sions of  this  County  last  year  by  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town,  for 
a  Road  to  be  laid  out  from  Wolfboro'  thro'  part  of  the  Second 
Division  of  New  Durham  &  the  first  Division  of  Middletown,  a 
committee  was  appointed  for  that  purpose,  who  have  laid  out  said 
Road  &  made  return  thereof  accordingly  as  a  County  Road, 
which  report  has  been  accepted  by  the  Court  as  such  &  the  ex- 
pense of  doing  the  same  so  far  allow'd  by  the  County — It  now 
remains  that  the  Towns  thro'  which  said  Road  is  laid  out  im- 
mediately make  the  same  a  good  Wraggon  Road  thro'  their  re- 
spective Districts — The  Difficulty  we  have  so  long  laboured  under 
for  want  of  a  Road  for  transportation,  has,  upon  our  finding  that 
there  can  be  a  Road  made  where  this  is  laid  out  so  easily  &  with 
so  little  expense  for  that  purpose  &  which  will  be  of  such  great 
Benefit  not  only  to  ourselves  but  many  other  Towns  above  us, 
Resolutely  determined  us  to  have  the  same  Compleated  as  soon 
as  may  be — This  is  therefore  to  Desire  that  you  will  prepare  the 
Necessary  Steps  for  compleating  the  same  thro'  your  Town  in 
such  a  way  &  manner  as  you  shall  think  most  Expedient,  &  any 


2io  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

unnecessary  Delay  &  Neglect  of  the  same  will  be  attended  with 
great  injury  to  this  &  the  Neighboring  Towns,  &  will  most  loudly 
be  complained  of  to  those  who  will  oblige  the  same  to  be  done, 
however  we  please  ourselves  with  the  Idea  of  your  readily  per- 
forming the  same  as  it  greatly  enhances  the  Value  of  that  part  of 
your  Town,  £  will  be  of  such  an  extensive  Benefit  to  the  public 

Your  Answer  to  the  above  will  be  kindly  accepted  by  Gentle- 
men 

Your  most  Humble  Servants 

Matthew  S.  Parker    \ 

Tames  Lucas  Jr  >  Selectmen" 

Ebenezer  Meder         ) 

Here  follows  a  reply  to  the  foregoing  from  the  selectmen  of 
New  Durham : — 

"New  Durham  September  I4th  1786 
Gentlemen 

We  Received  your  Letter  some  days  since  and  observe  the  con- 
tents respecting  the  new  Road  and  would  inform  you  that  we  have 
a  Surveyor  (Mr.  Andrew  Bickford)  appointed  upon  that  part  of 
the  Road  which  goes  through  the  second  Division  of  New  Dur- 
ham likewise  the  Town  has  Voted  a  Sum  of  Money  to  be  laid 
out  on  said  Road  more  than  the  Labour  of  those  people  living  on 
or  near  it  and  we  expect  the  Surveyor  will  go  to  work  Immediate- 
ly on  the  same. 

From  Gentlemen  your  very  Humble  Servants 

Peter  Drowne         ^  Selectmen  of 
Ebenezer  Durgin  }  New  Durham. 

P.  S.  We  would  further  inform  you  that  we  have  understood 
the  Sum  Voted  will  not  be  sufficient  to  do  the  necessary  Labour 
wanted  on  said  Road  for  which  reason  we  have  called  a  Town 
Meeting  to  get  an  additional  Sum  Voted.  Yours  as  above. 

To  the  Gentlemen  Select  Men  of  Wolfborough" 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  2II 

Probably  in  the  autumn  of  1786  or  during  the  year  of  1787  a 
wagon  road  was  opened  through  the  town  of  New  Durham,  but 
it  is  evident  that  none  was  completed  through  Middleton  as  late 
as  the  spring  of  1788.  This  is  shown  by  the  following  letter  from 
the  selectmen  of  Wolfeborough : — 

Wolfeboro',  April  3rd,  1788. 
Gentlemen 

Agreeable  to  the  Desire  of  the  Town  of  Wolfborough  we  have 
to  request  that  you  would  endeavor  to  have  the  suitable  provision 
made  before  your  Annual  Town  Meeting  is  dissolved  for  the  Com- 
pleating  of  the  Road  laid  out  thro'  your  Town  from  Wolfeborough 
by  the  County — We  have  waited  patiently,  as  the  Times  are 
Difficult,  expecting  you  would  accomplish  the  same,  for  the  sake 
of  advancing  the  Interests  of  your  own  Town  Notwithstanding 
we,  as  well  as  sundry  of  the  Towns  above  labour  under  so  great 
Difficulty  in  Travelling  &  Transporting  to  Markett — Now  as 
every  indulgence  has  been  given  which  can  Reasonably  be  ex- 
pected we  are  now  Determined  to  make  use  of  every  Measure  the 
Law  will  allow  of  to  get  the  Road  accomplished — And  if  we  should 
be  drove  to  take  that  Method  you  must  remember  that  the  ex- 
tensive usefulness  of  that  Road  when  finished  \vill  be  of  great 
weight  towards  helping  to  compleat  the  same — However  we 
would  wish  that  thro'  kindness  to  your  Neighbors  &  the  view 
of  advancing  the  Interests  of  your  own  Town,  you  will  speedily 
adopt  such  Steps  for  compleating  said  Road,  as  will  prevent  the 
Necessity  of  our  taking  any  Coercive  Measures  about  the  Matter 
which  will  be  much  more  agreeable  to  the  Town  in  general  but 
more  especially  to 

Gentlemen 

Your  most  Obedient  Humble  Servants 

Matthew  S.  Parker     ) 

T  f  Select 

lames  Lucas  >  ,r 

\  Men 
Ebenezer  Meder 


212  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

After  this  sharp  admonition  from  the  selectmen  of  Wolfe- 
borough  it  is  probable  that  the  construction  of  the  road  was  not 
very  long  delayed. 

The  opening  of  the  road  to  Middleton  was  not  only  advan- 
tageous to  the  towns  through  which  it  passed  but  also  to  Wolfe- 
borough  and  the  region  lying  northwest  of  it.  It  was  the  shortest 
route  from  W'olfeborough  to  Rochester,  the  distance  between 
the  two  towns  over  the  Chestnut  Hills,  situated  in  the  eastern  part 
of  Farmington,  being  about  twenty-one  miles.  Afterwards,  when 
a  more  level  road  had  been  constructed  to  Farmington  village, 
that  route  was  preferred,  as,  although  a  longer  way,  it  was  more 
easily  traveled. 

Middleton  Corner,  largely  on  account  of  the  through  travel, 
became  a  thriving  hamlet,  having  several  stores  and  two  fair- 
sized  taverns.  It  was  ten  miles  distant  from  Wolfeborough 
Bridge,  and  the  first  horse-baiting  station  on  the  downward  route. 
This  road  was  for  many  years  the  principal  thoroughfare  from  the 
Boroughs  and  other  towns  in  the  northern  part  of  Strafford  Coun- 
ty. As  early  as  1830  a  four-horse  stage  passed  over  it  daily  on  its 
route  from  Dover  to  Sandwich.  In  winter  there  was  much  travel 
and  transportation  from  even  the  Coos  region  to  the  market-towns 
on  the  Piscataqua  and  its  branches,  Dover  having  become  a  rival 
of  the  seaport  Portsmouth  in  the  sale  of  heavy  merchandise. 

June,  1795,  sundry  persons,  inhabitants  of  Wolfeborough, 
petitioned  to  be  annexed  to  Ossipee.  Here  is  the  petition : — 

"  Humbly  shews — 

We  your  Petitioners  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Wolfborough 
living  on  the  Northeasterly  part  of  said  town  and  on  the  land 
known  by  the  Addition  which  Addition  was  takeing  from  a  Gore 
of  land  now  called  ossipee — labour  under  many  difficulties 
espechely  those  of  your  petitioners  who  live  on  the  Northeasterly 
Side  of  White  face  mountain  (so  called)  are  upwards  of  Seven 
miles  from  the  Meeting  House  in  Said  Wolfborough  and  are 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


213 


obliged  to  go  through  a  part  of  Said  ossipee  to  travel  to  Said 
Meeting  House — likewise  can  have  little  or  no  benefit  of  School 
therefore  Your  petitioners  pray  that  Your  Honors  would  in  Your 
great  wisdom  disunite  said  Addition  of  land  and  annex  the  Same 
land  to  the  now  town  of  ossipee  from  which  it  was  formerly  taken 
— or  otherwise  if  your  Honors  See  fitt  to  grant  a  day  of  hearing 
on  the  premises  at  which  time  your  petitioners,  will  produce  a  plan 
of  Said  Wolfborough — together  with  the  Addition,  likewise  a  plan 
of  said  ossipee. 

Which  will  fully  appear  we  believe  to  your  Honors  if  we  can  be 
indulged  with  a  day  of  hereing  that  by  taking  said  addition  from 
said  Gore  of  land  has  rendered  the  Easterly  part  of  said  ossipee 
to  be  not  more  than  three  mikls  wide — and  on  the  west  line 
upwards  of  Seventeen  miles  long, — your  petitioners  fully  relying 
in  your  Grate  wisdom  and  that  you  will  grant  us  such  relief  as 
yon  shall  think  proper — in  the  premises  as  in  duty  bound  will 
ever  pray 

Wolfborough,  May  28th  day,  1795 

John  Young  Samuel  Hide  Nathaniel  Hyde 

Thomas  young  John  Swaesy  Isaac  Goldsmith 

William  Goldsmith     Isaac  Goldsmith  Jr     James  Fernald" 

At  the  session  of  the  legislature  held  in  June,  1799,  a  petition 
was  presented,  purporting  to  be  "the  petition  of  the  inhabitants 
living  in  the  southeasterly  end  of  the  town  of  Ossipee  ;  the  inhabi- 
tants living  on  the  first  three  lots  of  'Wolfborough  Addition;' 
the  inhabitants  living  on  the  northeasterly  corner  of  the  town  of 
Wakefield,  together  with  the  inhabitants  living  on  the  two  west 
ranges  of  the  first  division  of  land  in  the  town  of  Efrmgham," 
asking  to  be  set  off  from  the  several  towns  named,  and  incor- 
porated into  a  town  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  Bristol.  The 
disadvantage  of  the  inhabitants  of  these  several  localities  were 
minutely  and  specifically  detailed,  and  the  Honorable  Senate 
and  House  of  Representatives,  who  were  represented  as  "the 


214 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


guardians  of  the  lives,  liberties  and  fortunes  of  their  constituents," 
were  earnestly  requested  to  grant  the  desire  of  the  petitioners. 

As  the  petition  is  partially  destroyed,  the  signatures  of  all  the 
subscribers  cannot  be  determined.  As  far  as  is  ascertained,  they 
were:  Samuel  Hyde,  Thomas  Young,  Richard  Glover,  Thomas 
Glover,  Zachariah  Young,  Stephen  Hyde,  John  Young,  Samuel 
Hyde,  Jr.,  eight  citizens  of  Wolfeborough  Addition;  Gershom 
Plummer,  Sylvanus  Wentworth,  Elias  Wentworth,  Charles  Babb, 
John  Wentworth,  Stephen  Wentworth,  Ephriam  Wentworth, 
Shadrach  Folsoni,  eight  citizens  of  Wakefield ;  Timothy  Young, 
Ebenezer  Tasker,  and  six  other  person  whose  name  cannot  be 
deciphered,  citizens  of  Effingham ;  Moses  Hodgdon,  Timothy 
Horsom,  John  Tasker,  David  Crockett,  Ebenezer  Horsom,  Aaron 
Hanson,  Joseph  Dearborn,  William  Keays,  James  Roberts,  Seth 
Fogg,  Simon  Fogg,  John  Young,  Moses  Young,  David  Philbrick, 
John  Yeaton,  John  Marston,  Solomon  Emerson,  Samuel  Tasker, 
Thomas  Bickford,  Edward  Dearborn,  James  Dearborn,  Joseph 
Bickford,  George  Tasker,  and  six  others,  citizens  of  Ossipee. 

The  territory  included  within  the  prescribed  limits  would  have 
made  a  quite  desirable  country  town,  embracing  as  it  did  Brown's 
and  Fogg's  Ridges,  North  Wakefield,  Leighton's  Corner,  and 
Ossipee  Pocket.  The  town  of  Ossipee  had  three  years  previous 
voted  approvingly  of  the  measure.  At  a  meeting  held  in  October, 
1799,  the  town  of  Wolfeborough  voted  unanimously  against  the 
prayer  of  the  petitioners,  and  appointed  "Mr.  Henry  Rust"  an 
agent  to  oppose  "to  his  utmost"  the  granting  of  the  petition. 
The  scheme  for  the  formation  of  the  new  town  proved  a  failure. 

Petition  from  Wolfeborough  Addition  :  addressed  to  the  General 
Court,  1800. 

"The  Petition  of  us  the  subscribers  Inhabitants  of  a  certain 
Tract  of  Land  known  and  called  by  the  name  of  Wrolfborough 
addition — 

Humbly  Shews — 

That  said  Addition  has  ever  since  the  first  settlement  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


215 


Town  of  Wolfeborough  been  considered  as  a  part  of  and  belonging 
to  said  Town,  that  we  have  always  been  in  conjunction  with  the 
Inhabitants  of  said  Town  in  all  Town  Affairs,  have  laboured  to  and 
enjoy  the  common  priviledges  of  Towns  with  them,  That  we  have 
ever  considered  ourselves  as  belonging  to  said  Town,  and  but  of 
late  have  had  knowledge  that  said  Addition  either  by  mistake  or 
inattention  was  not  included  within  the  Limits  of  said  Wolfe- 
borough  incorporation.  Therefore  we  humbly  pray  that  said 
Addition  may  be  annexed  to  and  incorporated  with  said  Town 
of  Wolfborough  as  fully  as  though  it  had  been  included  in  the 
incorporation  of  said  Town — and  we,  as  in  duty  bound  will  ever 
pray- 

Wolfborough  May  26th  1800 

Stephen  Thurston  Joseph  Kinnison  Ebenezer  Tebbets 

Samuel  Estes  Thomas  Whittle  William  Goldsmith 

Jacob  Arak  (Trask)  Joseph  Nudd  Samuel  Tibbets 

James  Fernald  John  Swaasy  Jonathan  Tibbets" 

(Consent  to  the  foregoing.) 

"State  of  New  Hampshire  Strafford  ss  Wolfborough  May  3ist 
1800 

This  may  certify  that  all  the  Persons  liveing  on  Wolfborough 
addition  t  so  called ) ,  that  are  lyeable  to  be  taxed  in  Said  town  have 
signed  a  Petition  to  be  incorporated  with  Said  town  of  Wolf- 
borough — Excepting  five  Persons — 

Mark  Wiggin        -\ 

Dudley  Hardy      \  Selectmen  of  Wolfborough" 

Jonathan  Blake     ) 

Here  follows  a  copy  of  the  order  on  the  foregoing  petition  :— 

"Whereupon  it  is  ordered  that  the  petitioners  be  heard  before 
the  General  Court  on  the  First  Tuesday  of  the  next  Session  and 
that  the  Petitioners  cause  that  the  substance  of  said  Petition  and 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Order  of  Court  thereon  be  published  in  the  New  Hampshire 
Gazette  three  weeks  successively  commencing  six  weeks  prior 
to  said  day  of  hearing  —  Also  cause  that  a  Copy  of  the  Petition 
and  order  of  Court  be  posted  up  in  some  Public  place  in  the  Town 
of  Wolfborough  and  in  Wolfborough  Addition  six  weeks  prior 
to  said  day  of  hearing  that  any  person  or  persons  may  then  appear 
and  shew  cause  if  any  they  have,  why  the  prayer  thereof  may 
not  be  granted. 

Concord  June  12  1800 

Attest  Nathaniel  Parker  Deputy  Secretary." 
(Consent  of  Non-Resident  Proprietors) 

"We  being  informed  that  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  Wolf- 
borough  Addition  have  petitioned  the  General  Court  —  that  said  ad- 
dition be  annexed  to  the  Town,  of  Wolfbo'ro'  —  We  being  Proprietors  in 
said  tract  are  also  desirous  that  said  addition  should  be  incorporated 
with  said  Wolfborough  having  always  considered  it  as  intended  at  the 
Time  of  the  grant  and  since  to  be  a  part  of  said  Town  — 

Jonathan  Warner 
James  Sheafe 
Michael  Reade" 

(Certificate  of  Posting  of  Notice.) 

We  the  subscribers  hereby  certify  that  a  Copy  of  the  Petition  of 
Stephen  Thurston  and  others  Inhabitants  of  Wolfborough  Ad- 
dition (so  call'd)  presented  to  the  General  Court  last  June  Session 
praying  to  be  annexed  to  and  Incorporated  with  the  Town  of 
Wolfborough  and  Order  of  Court  thereon  has  been  posted  up  in 
the  Town  of  Wolfborough  and  Wolfborough  Addition  agreeably 
to  said  Order  — 

Attest 

Mark  Wiggin  ) 

Dudley  Hardy  >  Select  Men  of  Wolfborough 

Jonathan  Blake  ) 

Wolfborough  November  I4th  1800" 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  2I? 

(Certificate  of  Amount  of  Land  taxed,  1800.) 

"Wolfborough  November  the  I5th  1800 

To  whom  it  may  concern  this  may  Certify  that  we  the  Subscribers 
Select  men  of  Wolfeborough  have  taxed  in  Wolfborough  Ad- 
dition (So  called)  two  thousand  Eight  hundred  &  twenty  Seven 
Acres  of  Land  to  the  resedents  &  Nonresedents — 

also  in  the  town  of  Wolfeborough  Exclusive  of  the  addition 
twenty  thousand  two  hundred  &  forty  three  acres — • 

)       old  town       20241. 
total  Amount 

)        addition         2827 


23070 

Attest 

Mark  Wiggin       \ 

Dudley  Hardy       >  Select  Men" 
Jonathan  Blake      ) 

"State  of  New  Hampshire. 
In  the  Year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred. 

An  Act  to  annex  a  certain  tract  of  land  in  the  County  of  Straf- 
ford  commonly  called  Wolfborough  Addition    to    the    town    of 

Wolfeborough  in  said  County. 

Whereas  Stephen  Thurston  and  others  Inhabitants  of  a  tract  of 
land  in  the  County  of  Strafford  commonly  known  and  called  by 
the  name  of  Wolfborough  Addition,  Have  petitioned  the  Gen- 
eral Court  representing  the  said  Addition  has  ever  since  the 
first  Settlement  of  the  town  of  Wolfeborough  been  considered 
as  a  part  of  and  belonging  to  said  Town — that  they  have  always 
acted  in  conjunction  with  the  Inhabitants  of  said  town  in  all 
town  affairs — that  they  have  always  considered  themselves  as 
belonging  to  said  Wolfeborough,  and  but  of  late  have  had 


2i8  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

knowledge  that  said  Addition,  either  through  mistake  or  inat- 
tention, was  not  included  with  in  of  Wolfeborough  incorpora- 
tion :  Wherefore  they  prayed  that  said  addition  might  be  an- 
nexed to  and  incorporated  with  the  town  of  Wolfeborough 
The  prayer  of  which  petition  appearing  just  and  reasonable: 
—Therefore, 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in 
General  Court  convened  that  that  tract  of  land  in  the  County  of 
Strafford  usually  called  Wolfborough  Addition  and  bounded 
as  follows  to  wit.  Beginning  at  the  Easterly  Corner  of  Wolfe- 
borough,  and  running  Northeasterly  on  the  head  or  Xorth  Line 
of  the  towns  of  Brookneld  and  Wakefield  one  mile  and  seventy 
Rods  to  Ossipee  line,  thence  running  Northwesterly  on  the 
dividing  line  between  the  town  of  Ossipee  and  said  Addition, 
three  miles  and  one  half  and  twenty  rods  to  a  Beach  Tree 
standing  on  the  Easterly  side  of  the  Road  leading  from  Ossipee 
through  said  Addition,  thence  running  Southwesterly  eighty- 
three  Rods,  thence  running  Northwesterly  on  said  dividing  line 
about  one  mile  and  three  quarters  to  the  North  Corner  of 
Number  five  in  said  Addition,  thence  running  Southwesterly 
to  \Volfeborough  Line,  thence  running  Southeasterly  on  \Volfe- 
borough  line  to  the  bound  first  mentioned,  together  with  the 
Inhabitants  thereon,  be  and  hereby  is  annexed  to,  and  incor- 
porated with  the  said  Town  of  Wolfeborough  as  fully,  and  to 
all  intents  and  purposes  as  tho'  it  had  been  expressly  included 
therein  by  said  act  of  Incorporation. 

Provided  nevertheless  that  nothing  herein  contained  shall  be 
understood  as  shall  hinder  the  General  Court  on  Application 
of  Moses  Brown  who  is  included  in  this  Bill  from  being  annexed 
to  the  town  of  Ossipee  with  that  part  of  Wolfeborough  Addition 
which  lays  on  the  Northeasterly  side  of  the  road  that  runs 
Southerly  by  said  Brown's  now  dwelling  house. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


219 


State  of  New 

Hampshire  In  the  House  of  Representatives 

Dec.  3rd  1800 

The  foregoing  Bill  having  had  three  several  readings  passed 
to  be  enacted. 

Sent  up  for  Concurrence 

Nathaniel  Parker  Speaker  Pro.  Tern. 

In  Senate  December  3rd  1800 — This  Bill  having  read  a  third 
time  was  enacted 

Amos  Shepard  President 

Approved  December  4th  1800 

J.  T.  Oilman,  Governor 

A  true  Copy  Attest 

Nathaniel  Parker  Deputy  Secretary" 

Much  of  the  surface  of  Wolfeborough  Addition  is  uneven,  and 
parts  of  it  are  mountainous,  the  four  prominent  peaks,  Batson, 
Trask,  Whiteface  and  Cotton  Alountains  being  situated  on  its 
northern  and  eastern  borders.  It  has,  however,  on  its  ridges  some 
very  productive  farm  land,  and  when  agriculture  was  popular  in 
New  England,  had  a  thrifty  population.  In  coming  time,  when 
men  shall  have  become  wiser  than  now,  and  more  shall  have 
left  the  crowded  cities  to  devote  their  energies  to  the  cultivation  of 
the  abandoned  farms,  these  lands  will  again  brighten  with  the 
verdure  of  profitable  industry. 

In  1849  a  portion  of  Alton  about  one  mile  in  width  was  severed 
from  that  town  and  annexed  to  Wolfeborough.  The  tract  was 
not  a  very  valuable  acquisition,  as  it  had  a  sparse  and  indigent 
population  and  an  extensive  road  to  keep  in  repair.  The  town  of 
Alton  very  wisely  made  no  objections  to  the  transfer. 


220  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

In  1858  the  farm  now  known  as  the  Fay  farm  was  separated 
from  Tuftonborough,  and  made  a  part  of  Wolfeborough.  This 
addition  lengthened  the  Wolfeborough  road  somewhat,  but  the 
increased  value  of  the  real  estate  within  its  limits  has  counter- 
balanced any  additional  expense  arising  from  that. 

In  1895  tne  f°ur  islands  situated  near  Wolfeborough  bay,  which 
were  within  the  limits  of  Alton,  were  transferred  to  Wolfeborough. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

VARNEY  FAMILY — BASSETT  FAMILY — BRACKETT  FAMILY — JESSE 
WHITTEN'S  FAMILY — HAINES  FAMILY — HARDY  FAMILY 
— EDMONDS  FAMILY — CHAMBERLAIN  FAMILY — NUTE 
FAMILY — NUDD  FAMILY — SHOREY  FAMILY — SOME  OF  THE 
MORE  RECENT  ARRIVALS. 

AS  about  this  time  several  families  came  to  Wolfeborough  who 
are  connected  with  subsequent  important  events,  sketches  of 
them  will  here  be  introduced. 

Moses  Varney  came  from  England  sometime  previous  to  the 
Revolutionary  War,  and  settled  in  Doverj_N.  H.  He  is  said  to 
have  possessed  considerable  property,  owning  three  vessels,  but 
during  the  war  his  fortune  was  lost.  His  wife,  however,  still  re- 
tained a  small  amount  of  money  in  her  own  right,  and  in  the 
early  eighties  he  decided  to  visit  Wolfeborough  and  make  a  home 
there.  The  pair  journeyed  on  horseback  to  Merry  Meeting  Bay, 
and  from  there,  through  the  forest  to  Wolfeborough.  Mr.  Var- 
ney purchased  that  portion  of  the  Sewall  lot  lying  east  of  the 
main  road  and  south  of  Smith's  River,  being  bounded  by  the 
highway,  the  river,  and  the  mill-lot.  He  built  a  dwelling-house 
a  little  east  of  the  site  of  Brewster  Memorial  Hall,  and  established 
a  tannery  north  of  the  present  location  of  the  Bank  Building.  He 
had  previously  carried  on  the  business  of  tanning,  and  no  doubt 
proposed  to  combine  that  with  farming  in  Wolfeborough.  He  had 
several  children — among  them,  Joseph,  Moses,  Joshua,  Richard, 
Judith,  Ruth,  Sarah.  The  daughters  became  respectively  the 
wives  of  -  -  Wig-gin,  James  Wiggin,  and  Paul  H.  Varney. 

It  is  probable  that  Mr.  Varney  did  not  at  first  take  his  family 
to  Wolfeborough,  as  the  next  spring  Richard,  a  lad  in  his  teens, 
drew  his  young  sister,  Ruth,  on  a  handsled  from  Merry  Meeting 


222  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Bay  across  the  lake  to  Wolfeborough.  It  was  night  when  they 
neared  the  shore,  and,  discovering  that  the  ice  was  weak,  they 
did  not  proceed  directly  to  Sewall's  Landing  as  their  way  led,  but 
steered  for  Clark^s_Point,  and  reached  the  shore  in  safety.  That 
night  a  gale  of  wind  sprang  up,  and  the  next  morning  no  ice  was 
to  be  seen  in  that  part  of  the  lake. 

Mr.  Varney  continued  in  the  tanning  business  several  years, 
probably  until  his  son  Joseph  was  established  on  the  other  side 
oi  the  river.  In  1792  he  served  as  selectman.  While  living  on 
the  Sewall  lot,  a  daughter  died,  and  was  there  buried ;  the  place 
of  interment  is  not  known. 

Joseph  Varney,  the  elder  son  of  Moses,  was  born  Jan.  24,  1771. 
Very  early  in  life  he  exhibited  a  spirit  of  enterprise,  and  when 
twenty-three  years  old  had  in  his  possession  eighty  acres  of  land, 
which  was  unquestionably  situated  on  the  east  side  of  the  main 
road,  opposite  the  Lucas  lot.  Here  he  erected  buildings,  but  sub- 
sequently removed  them  to  the  valley  below,  where  there  was  a 
stream  with  volume  and  fall  sufficient  to  run  a  bark-mill — a  loca- 
tion most  desirable  for  a  tannery,  and  occupied  as  such  for  a 
century.  Soon  after  his  majority,  Mr.  Varney  began  the  busi- 
ness of  tanning,  at  first  in  a  small  way,  as  his  means  were  quite 
limited.  What  he  lacked  in  money,  however,  he  made  up  in 
energy.  He  purchased  of  the  farmers  such  hides  as  he  could  ob- 
tain, or  manufactured  them  into  leather  on  shares.  Shoes  were 
then  quite  generally  made  by  itinerant  cordwainers  at  the  homes 
of  their  customers,  who  were  expected  to  provide  the  stock  ;  hence, 
leather  was  sold  almost  entirely  at  retail,  his  customers  being 
from  the  neighboring  inhabitants.  After  a  while  he  commenced 
making  boots  and  shoes. 

!\lr.  Varney  was  not  content  with  his  first  purchase  of  land,  but 
increased  the  number  of  his  acres,  until  they  bordered  on  both 
the  Pine  Hill  and  main  roads.  He  made  a  success  of  farming. 
His  land  was  well  adapted  for  cultivation,  and  his  tannery  fur- 
nished fertilizers  for  it.  Besides,  he  had  unusual  facilities  for  se- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


223 


curing  laborers.  Many  of  his  customers  had  more  muscle  than 
money,  and  were  quite  willing-  to  exchange  it  for  his  goods. 
Working  by  the  day  was  quite  a  common  affair  with  many  of 
them,  and  even  some  who  were  in  well-to-do  circumstances  would 
occasionally  spare  a  day  to  the  tanner ;  hence,  when  his  farm 
work  dragged,  he  could  by  judicious  management  obtain  assist- 
ance from  the  occasional  laborers. 

Mr.  Varney's  combined  enterprises  rendered  him  a  very  busy 
man,  and  for  several  decades  he  probably  employed  more 
laborers,  did  more  business,  and  accumulated  more  wealth  than 
any  other  citizen  of  Wolfeborough.  Like  other  thrifty  men  of  his 
time,  he  speculated  somewhat  in  lands,  purchasing  such  as  were 
owned  by  the  town  and  Masonian  proprietors,  and  reselling  them 
to  others,  generally  in  smaller  quantites.  In  1809,  through  the 
agency  of  Nathaniel  A.  Haven,  of  Portsmouth,  he  bought  of 
Edward  B.  Long  and  his  wife,  Mary  Long,  a  grand-daughter  of 
John  Tomlinson,  who  were  living  in  England,  the  four  large 
islands  lying  near  Wolfeborough  harbor,  which  contained  seventy- 
nine  acres.  These  islands  were  then  within  the  limits  of  Alton, 
but  have  since  been  annexed  to  Wolfeborough.  In  1820  he  and 
Ichabod  Libbey  sold  the  George  Jaffrey  lot,  which  was  num- 
bered twelve  in  the  Masonian  proprietors'  division,  to  Jeremy 
Towle.  It  contained  three  hundred  acres,  and  the  price  paid  was 
eight  hundred  dollars. 

Mr.  Varney  belonged  to  the  society  of  Friends,  or  Quakers,  as 
they  were  formerly  generally  called,  and  his  house  was  a  free 
hostelry  for  the  traveling  members  of  that  sect.  This  afforded 
him  an  opportunity  to  become  acquainted  with  such  men  as 
Whittier,  the  Cartlands,  and  other  early  reformers.  On  moral 
questions  his  family  was  pretty  sure  to  be  on  the  right  side. 

Joseph  Yarney  married  Hannah,  the  daughter  of  John  Bas- 
sett.  They  had  twelve  children:  Huldah,  born  June  5  ,1800; 
Susan,  born  Nov.  25,  1802;  Almira,  born  Feb.  26,  1804,  married 
David  C.  Breed,  of  Weare  ;  Lydia,  born  April  20,  1808,  married 


224 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Samuel  Dennis,  of  Dover;  Moses,  born  April  10,  1810,  married 
Almira  Huzzey,  of  Berwick,  Me. ;  Ruth,  born  Aug.  10,  1813 ; 
Richard,  born  Jan.  4,  1815 ;  Mary  B.,  born  Jan.  12,  1817,  married 
David  Breed,  of  Weare ;  Isabel,  born  May  12,  1819,  died  young; 
Agustus  C..  born  Jan.  2,  1824,  died  young;  Joseph  E.,  born  Sept. 
18,  1825,  died  young;  Joseph,  born  Sept.  12,  1829. 

Huldah,  the  eldest  child,  became  the  wife  of  Jonas  Varney, 
who  came  from  Farmington  and  served  to  her  father  an  ap- 
prenticeship as  tanner.  The  fruit  of  this  union  was  a  son,  born 
March  26,  1825,  whom  they  named  Richard  Agustus,  probably  in 
memory  of  his  Uncle  Richard,  who  so  heroicly  conveyed  his  sister 
Ruth  over  the  treacherous  ice  in  safety  to  the  shore.  This  name 
was  afterward  changed  to  the  more  familiar  Augustus  J.  now 
borne  by  the  well-known  Wolfeborough  citizen,  a  member  of  the 
late  firm  of  Libbey,  Varney  &  Co.  He  has  a  son,  born  Nov.  15, 
1859,  named  Penn,  an  architect  who  resides  in  Lynn,  Mass. 

Jonas  Varney,  after  his  marriage,  engaged  in  the  business  of 
tanning  on  his  own  account,  having  his  tannery  a  little  west  of  the 
site  of  the  Lake  Shore  House.  He  soon  died,  and  his  widow 
subsequently  married  Lindley  M.  Hoag,  a  talented  preacher  from 
Vermont.  Mrs.  Hoag  herself  was  a  very  acceptable  public 
speaker.  They  had  four  children  :  Hannah  Huldah.  who  named 
the  popular  steamer  "Lady  of  the  Lake"  that  so  long  furrowed 
"Saukee's"  waters  ;  Joseph  Lindley  ;  Penn,  who  was  drowned  at 
sea,  and  Zeno  K.  After  the  death  of  Mrs.  Hoag  the  rest  of  the 
family  left  Xew  England. 

Moses  Varney,  the  eldest  son  of  Joseph,  succeeded  his  father 
in  the  business  of  tanning  and  farming,  and  for  many  years  em- 
ployed a  large  number  of  hands  and  manufactured  a  large  amount 
of  leather.  He  was  quite  unfortunate.  In  1845  n*s  tannery  was 
burned,  his  pecuniary  loss  above  insurance  being  about  ten  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  in  1877  a  second  tannery,  a  barn,  and  shed,  with 
a  large  amount  of  stock,  was  consumed  by  fire,  a  net  loss  of  about 
fifteen  thousand  dollars.  March  13,  1874,  his  eldest  son,  Charles 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  22$ 

W.,  aged  twenty-five  years,  was  drowned  in  Lake  Winnipesaukee. 
Since  Mr.  Varney's  death  some  business  has  been  done  at  the  old 
establishment,  but  not  for  several  years.  The  most  of  the  farm 
has  been  sold  in  lots  to  different  individuals.  The  buildings  and 
some  land  remained  in  the  possession  of  his  widow  until  her 
death,  which  occurred  in  1899. 

Joseph  Varney,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  has,  until  recently, 
been  actively  and  successfully  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
leather,  his  establishment  being  situated  on  the  shore  of  the  lake. 
He  has  recently  retired  from  the  business.  He  married  Emma  J., 
daughter  of  Hon.  Nicholas  V.  Whitehouse,  of  Rochester,  and 
has  one  daughter,  the  wife  of  George  F.  Symonds,  who  was  for- 
merly associated  with  his  father-in-law  in  business. 

Paul  H.  Varney  came  from  Chestnut  Hills,  Farmington,  about 
1812.  He  purchased  that  portion  of  the  mill-lot  which  included 
the  upper  falls  on  Smith's  River,  and  here  erected  a  saw-mill,  a 
dwelling-house,  a  barn,  and  out-buildings.  Having  obtained  pos- 
session of  a  tract  of  land  lying  on  the  Harvey  Brook,  where  Wil- 
liam Kent  had  erected  a  saw-mill,  he  removed  that  also  to  Smith's 
River,  and  so  had  two  saw-mills  on  the  same  stream.  On  this 
tract  he  planted  extensive  corn-fields.  In  1816  he  erected  a  fac- 
tory on  Smith's  River.  It  was  raised  in  a  snowstorm  on  the  sixth 
clay  of  June.  He  never  completely  filled  it  with  machinery,  but 
occupied  it  for  carding  wool,  dressing,  and,  to  some  extent,  manu- 
facturing cloth.  It  afterwards  came  into  the  possession  of  the 
Pickering  Factory  Company,  who  occupied  it  until  1841,  when 
it  was  burned.  Charles  and  George  W.  Warren  afterwards  built 
a  starch-mill  on  the  site,  but  the  business  did  not  prove  remunera- 
tive, and  was  soon  abandoned. 

Mr.  Yarney  married  Sarah,  the  youngest  daughter  of  Moses 
Varney,  Sr.,  and  had  one  son,  named  Henry,  and  several  daugh- 
ters. Henry  finally  settled  in  the  west.  One  of  the  daughters, 
Iluldah,  was  drowned  by  breaking  through  the  ice  on  Crooked 


226  HISTORY  OF   WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Pond  while  on  her  way  to  school.  Another  daughter,  Jane,  be- 
came a  fearless  equestrienne,  managing  untamed  colts  with  uncom- 
mon skill.  She  married  Simeon  Durgin,  and  removed  to  Sand- 
wich, where  her  father  made  his  home  during  the  last  years  of  his 
life. 

John  Bassett  came  from  Lynn,  Mass.,  in  1790,  and  settled  on  a 
lot  of  land  which  has  ever  since  been  known  as  the  Bassett  farm. 
The  buildings  were  erected  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  main 
road,  the  location  where  they  stood  being  now  approached  by 
Mill  Street,  which  has  been  somewhat  recently  opened.  During 
the  management  of  affairs  by  his  grandson,  Daniel  Bassett,  Jr., 
the  two-story  part  of  the  house  was  removed  to  North  Main 
Street,  and  is  now,  with  a  portion  of  the  farm,  owned  and  oc- 
cupied by  the  heirs  of  the  late  Abel  Haley.  The  one-story  part 
still  remains  with  another  portion  of  the  farm  where  the  build- 
ings were  first  erected.  Mr.  Bassett's  children  were :  Daniel, 
married  Abigail  Bean  ;  John,  married  Ruth  Wiggin ;  Lydia,  mar- 
ried Samuel  Xowell ;  Hannah,  married  Joseph  Yarney ;  Sally, 
married  Jonathan  Buffum  ;  Rebecca,  married  \Yilliam  Lyons. 

Daniel,  the  eldest  son,  succeeded  his  father  in  the  management 
of  the  farm,  becoming  a  successful  farmer.  He  spent  most  of  his 
active  life  in  Wolfeborough.  but  in  old  age  accompanied  his  son, 
Daniel  Bassett,  Jr.,  to  Minnesota,  whither  some  of  his  children 
had  previously  emigrated.  Following  is  a  list  of  his  children  : 
John,  went  west  when  a  young  man ;  Hannah,  married  Amos 
Jones,  of  Gilmanton  ;  Joel,  went  to  Minneapolis  and  accumulated 
a  large  property ;  Daniel,  married  Jane  Campney  ;  Philip,  went 
west ;  L'rsula,  married  Joseph  Canney,  of  Dover. 

Daniel  Bassett  Jr.'s  children  were  Abbie  Susan,  born  Feb.  14, 
1846,  and  Maria  Jane,  born  Sept.  22,  1849.  ^r-  Bassett  remained 
in  Wolfeborough  until  middle  age,  and  was  thrifty ;  he  then  went 
to  Minneapolis,  and  became  wealthy.  He  was  quite  active  in  his 
adopted  home  politically  and  financially.  His  decease  occurred 
in  1899. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  227 

John  Bassett,  second  son  of  John  the  settler,  was  a  farmer  and 
school-teacher.  For  twenty-eight  successive  years  he  had  charge 
of  winter  district  schools,  and  during  that  period  taught  a  few 
terms  in  the  summer.  He  became  the  owner  of  a  farm  on  the  bor- 
ders of  Wolfeborough  and  Tuftonborough,  the  dividing  line  be- 
tween the  two  towns  passing  through  his  house.  Here  he  re- 
sided a  number  of  years,  but  afterwards  purchased  the  Thomas- 
Townsend-Fox-Tuttle  farm,  now  occupied  by  his  son  George 
W.  Bassett.  His  son  John  Newell  Bassett  then  took  possession 
of  the  Wolfeborough-Tuftonborough  farm,  where  he  reared  a 
family  consisting  of  one  son,  Charles  S.,  who  now  lives  on  the 
farm,  and  two  daughters.  Mr.  Bassett  married  Ruth  Wiggin,  a 
daughter  of  James  Wiggin,  and  had  children  as  follows :  Daniel 
W.,  born  Feb.  5,  1812,  died  young;  John  N.,  born  March  2,  1815, 
married  Lydia  Langley ;  Charles  D.,  born  May  13,  1816,  went 
west ;  Ruth,  born  May  7,  1820,  married  Isaac  Lovering,  of  Free- 
dom ;  Gulielma,  born  Jan.  28,  1822,  married  Jacob  K.  Purington, 
of  Dover ;  James,  born  Sept.  23,  1825,  went  to  Boston  ;  George 
W.,  born  March  28,  1829,  married  Roxanna  Fullerton.  George 
W.  Bassett  has  three  children,  James  A.,  Emma,  and  Clara. 

Benning  Brackett,  a  brother  of  Dr.  Joshua  Brackett,  of  Ports- 
mouth, a  town  proprietor  of  Wolfeborough,  was  born  ijv  New 
Market  in  1745.  He  married  Sarah  Bennett  of  the  same  town, 
and  had  a  family  of  sixteen  children,  John,  Sally,  Elizabeth,  Ben- 
ning, Daniel  (died  an  infant),  Nancy,  Comfort,  Daniel  2nd, 
Joshua,  Polly,  Huldah,  Catherine,  Hannah,  Purney,  George, 
Lydia.  Fifteen  of  these  reached  an  average  age  of  seventy  years. 
None  of  them  were  dissolute  or  poor  or  very  wealthy.  They  were 
great  readers.  Brought  up  in  the  same  neighborhood  as  was  the 
New  Market  Folsom  family,  they  possessed  similar  charac- 
teristics, not  being  especially  distinguished  for  brilliancy,  but 
having  sound  judgment  and  probity — the  essential  qualities  of 
good  citizenship.  The  two  families,  although  resembling  each 
other  in  mentality,  were  strikingly  dissimilar  in  physique,  the 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

Folsoms  being  spare,  the  Bracketts  corpulent.  Some  of  them 
were  very  obese,  Benning  weighing  about  five  hundred  pounds 
and  Daniel,  2nd,  six  hundred. 

John,  the  first-born  of  Benning's  children,  having  received  a 
settler's  lot  from  his  Uncle  Joshua,  came  to  Wolfeborough,  and, 
marrying  Betsy,  daughter  of  James  Folsom,  located  where  the 
hamlet  Brackett's  Corner  now  is.  Here  he  remained  during  his 
lifetime.  His  children  were :  William,  born  1802 ;  Joshua,  born 
1804;  John  M.,  born  1807  ;  Betsy,  born  1809  ;  Hannah,  born  1815. 
Two  of  these  reached  the  age  of  seventy  years.  Joshua  was  ninety- 
six  years  old  when  he  died.  He  and  his  sister  Betsy  were  never 
married.  William  spent  a  portion  of  his  life  in  Ossipee ;  he  had 
three  daughters. 

John  M.  Brackett  was  born  in  1807,  and  always  resided  in 
Wolfeborough.  In  earlier  life  he  was  an  extensive  farmer,  but 
for  many  years  was  officially  connected  with  banking  and  other 
corporations,  being  long  president  of  Lake  National  Bank  and 
treasurer  of  Carroll  County  Savings  Bank.  For  many  years  he 
was  one  of  the  most  prominent  republicans  in  the  state,  and  was 
frequently  mentioned  as  candidate  for  governor.  He  was  repre- 
sentative to  the  legislature  in  1855  and  18.^7,  a  messenger  (1858) 
to  carry  the  electoral  vote  for  Fremont  and  Dayton  to  Washing- 
ton, a  member  of  the  council  of  Governor  Gilmore  in  1864,  and 
a  member  of  the  council  of  Governor  Smythe  in  1865.  No  mem- 
ber of  the  council  during  these  two  important  years  rendered 
more  faithful  service.  Mr.  Brackett  was  injured  in  a  railroad 
accident  which  occurred  at  the  Weirs  in  1852,  and  was  ever  after- 
ward a  cripple.  He  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Moses  Thomp- 
son. They  had  two  daughters,  who  lived  to  maturity,  one  of 
them,  Sarah,  marrying,  but  both  dying  before  the  decease  of  their 
father,  which  occurred  in  1887. 

Jesse  Whitton  was  born  in  Brentwood,  March  18,  1766.  His 
father  early  deceased,  and  his  mother,  with  her  son,  came  to 
Wolfeborough.  She  married  Benjamin  Evans,  and  they  came 


JESSE    7/HITTEN 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  229 

into  the  possession  of  the  John  Sinkler  lot,  now  the  farm__of  G._B. 
Clark.  Here  were  born  to  them  five  children:  Benjamin,  born 
March  i,  1777,  settled  in  Alton;  Lydia,  born  Aug.  8,  1778,  mar- 
ried Elder  Isaac  Townsend :  Elizabeth,  born  May  21,  1780,  mar- 
ried Dr.  Thomas  Saltmarsh,  of  New  Durham ;  Mary,  born  Aug. 
18,  1782,  married  Samuel  Connor;  Rebecca,  born  June  27,  1784. 
Mr.  Evans  died  previous  to  1788,  and  his  widow  continued  to 
manage  the  farm  and  keep  tavern.  She  subsequently  married 
again. 

Jesse  Whitton,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  shipped  on  board  a 
privateer,  and  sailed  a  cruise  of  eight  months.  At  about  the  time 
of  reaching  his  majority  he  married  Hannah  Allard,  who  was  born 
Feb.  19,  1768.  He  settled  on  a  fifty-acre  lot  included  in  the 
Torrey  right.  It  lay  on  Smith's  River,  perhaps  on  both  sides  of 
it.  He  first  erected  buildings  on  a  point  which  projected  into 
Crooked  Pond,  but  afterwards  removed  them  farther  from  the 
shore  to  the  spot  where  now  stand  those  occupied  by  Howard 
B.  Willey.  He  afterwards  purchased  more  land,  at  one  time  own- 
ing all  or  nearly  all  on  the  southerly  side  of  the  highway  from 
the  farm  of  Charles  Morgan  to  the  mill-lot.  He  also  owned  some 
on  the  northerly  side  of  the  road,  on  which  he  erected  two  small 
houses,  one  now  enlarged  and  owned  by  Alonzo  Avery,  and  the 
other  occupied  by  Mrs.  I.  E.  C.  Pratt.  The  former  was  for  the 
eldest  son,  Stephen,  and  the  latter  for  the  widow  of  the  same. 

Before  the  construction  of  the  Wolfeborough  railroad,  most  of 
the  winter  travel  from  the  easterly  part  of  the  town  to  the  village 
was  across  Lake  Wentworth,  Jesse  Whitton's  farm,  and  Crooked 
Pond.  When  Mr.  Whitton  was  disposing  of  his  land  between 
the  highway  and  the  river,  he  intended  to  reserve  a  free  public 
passage  from  the  street  to  the  water  at  Mast  Landing,  but  failed 
to  have  the  reservation  legally  made,  and  several  years  after  the 
owner  of  the  land  forbade  people  crossing  over  the  passage-way. 
This  was  an  inconvenience,  not  only  to  the  general  public,  but 
also  to  the  Whitton  families  then  residing  on  the  "Neck,"  as  it 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

was  called.  At  the  petition  of  the  father  and  married  sons,  the 
selectmen  laid  out  the  passage  as  a  public  highway,  the  Whittons 
paying  the  land  damages  awarded.  As  the  owner  of  the  land  re- 
quired the  award  to  be  paid  in  coin,  the  short  passage  to  the 
water  has  since  been  called  "Silver  Street."  As  the  public  were 
still  allowed  a  free  winter  passage  across  the  Jesse  Whitton  farm, 
the  town  subsequently  voted  to  assume  the  cost  of  the  land  dam- 
ages. 

Mr.  Whitton  was  a  charter  member  of  the  first  church  or- 
ganized in  Wolfeborough,  and  for  half  a  century  most  of  its  meet- 
ings were  held  at  his  house.  He  was  an  enthusiastic  and  quite 
demonstrative  religionist.  Although  lacking  an  education,  he 
claimed  some  knowledge  of  the  healing  art,  and  not  unfrequently 
his  plasters  and  decoctions  of  roots  and  herbs  were  more  ef- 
ficacious than  the  lancet  and  mercurial  preparations  so  much 
used  by  the  medical  profession  of  his  time.  He  could  not  ex- 
hibit the  diploma,  but  bore  the  title  of  Doctor,  and  had  a  limited 
practice  for  many  years  in  some  ailments.  He  was  a  person  of 
small  stature  and  remarkably  agile.  Many  stories  are  told  of  his 
prowess  as  a  wrestler,  even  when  advanced  in  years.  He  was  an 
adept  at  capturing  rattle-snakes,  and  frequently  visited  the  island 
in  Lake  Winnipesaukee,  so  noted  for  the  propagation  of  that  rep- 
tile for  the  purpose  of  securing  them,  valuing  very  highly  for 
external  applications  the  oil  which  he  extracted  from  their  bodies. 

Mr.  Whitton's  children  were:  Stephen,  born  Oct.  19,  1788, 
married  Eunice  Earle ;  Henry,  born  March  26,  1791,  married 
Abigail  Triggs ;  Lydia,  born  March  26,  1793,  married  Isaac 
Clough  ;  Miriam,  born  Feb.  23,  1795,  married  Thomas  Baker,  of 
Brookfield  ;  Betsy,  born  Nov.  24,  1796,  married  James  Ricker,  of 
Alton;  Hannah,  born  Jan.  23,  1799,  married  Charles  Baker  of 
Brookfield;  Jesse,  born  March  18,  1801,  married  Betsy  Drew; 
Xancy,  born  Feb.  28,  1803,  married  Samuel  Xudd,  Jr. ;  Daniel, 
born  Jan.  25,  1805.  married  Sarah  Dore ,  Lurannah,  born  May 
3,  1808,  married  Joseph  Johnson  ;  Polly,  born  Feb.  9,  1810,  mar- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


231 


ried    Benjamin   F.   Garland;   Harriet,  born   July    12,   1813,   died 
young. 

He  lived  to  the  age  of  ninety-three  years.  The  farm,  which 
was  divided  between  the  two  youngest  sons,  was  somewhat  en- 
larged by  the  purchase  of  land  that  originally  belonged  to  the 
King  lot,  and  is  now  owned  by  Howard  B.  Willey  and  his  son, 
Alexander  H.  On  it  Mr.  Willey  has  erected  fine  farm-buildings, 
and  has  greatly  increased  its  producing  capacity. 

Masonian  proprietary  lot  numbered  six,  which  was  situated  at 
the  eastern  corner  of  the  Lords'  Quarter  division,  fell  to  Thomas 
Packer.  It  was  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  rods  wide  and  about 
three  hundred  rods  long,  containing  three  hundred  acres.  Sheriff 
Packer  donated  a  settler's  lot  of  one  hundred  acres  to  Abram 
Prebble.  (This  afterward  came  into  the  possession  of  the  Haines 
family.)  In  1772  he  deeded  one  hundred  acres  to  Joshua  Haines, 
of  Greenland,  who  twelve  years  after  came  to  Wolfeborough  with 
his  three  sons — Jacob,  Matthias,  and  Joseph,  all  of  whom  settled 
on  the  Packer  lot. 

The  earlier  members  of  this  family  were  inclined  to  longevity. 
The  father,  Joshua,  died  at  the  age  of  ninety  years,  and  Jane,  a 
sister  of  his,  at  ninety-four.  His  son  Jacob  lived  to  be  eighty- 
nine  years  old  and  his  son  Joseph  to  be  eighty-six ;  a  daughter, 
Mehitable,  was  ninety-four  years  at  the  time  of  her  death.  Ruth, 
the  wife  of  Jacob  Haines,  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-five  years. 

After  the  death  of  his  father,  Jacob  Haines  came  into  the  pos- 
session of  the  easterly  portion  of  the  lot,  which  was  quite  ele- 
vated, and  is  still  called  Haines  Hill.  From  this  height  and  an- 
other prominent  elevation,  Martin's  Hill,  the  proprietors  estab- 
lished signals  for  their  own  convenience  and  that  of  the  surround- 
ing inhabitants.  After  the  division  of  the  training-band  into  two 
companies,  Jacob  Haines  became  captain  of  the  soldiers  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  town.  He  served  as  selectman,  moderator, 
and  representative. 

His  children  were  five  in  number:  James,  served  as  moderator 


232  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

and  selectman.  Most  of  his  life  was  spent  in  Wolfeborough,  but 
during  his  last  years  he  made  his  home  with  his  son,  James  Mon- 
roe Haines,  a  very  respectable  and  quite  influential  citizen  of 
Dover.  Matthias,  born  in  1796,  married  Eliza  Wig-gin.  Jacob 
went  to  Chelsea.  Ruth  married  Richard  Bickford.  Mary  mar- 
ried Joseph  Ney,  of  Ossipee. 

The  children  of  Matthias  Haines,  the  son  of  Jacob,  were :  Betsy 
W.,  born  Nov.  6,  1823,  married  Alonzo  F.  Tebbetts ;  Ruth,  born 
Nov.  4,  1825,  married  Nicholas  Abbott,  of  Manchester;  Mat- 
thias, born  March  26,  1828,  went  to  Weston,  Vermont ;  Mary  J., 
born  Nov.  15,  1832,  married  Frank  Knight,  of  Portland,  Me.; 
Lydia,  born  July  21,  1835,  married  John  Boothby  of  Waterville, 
Me. ;  Joseph  A.,  born  Feb.  15,  1840,  went  to  Pawtucket,  R.  I. ; 
Jacob  A.,  born  Oct.  13,  1843,  resides  in  Portsmouth. 

Joseph  Haines  the  youngest  son  of  Joshua,  purchased  the 
northerly  part  of  the  Packer  lot,  working  for  five  dollars  a  month 
to  pay  for  it.  His  children  were :  Polly,  married  Phineas  John- 
son ;  Eleanor,  married  Richard  Nucld  ;  Hannah,  married  Elijah 
Hersey  ;  Sally,  married  Joshua  Goldsmith  ;  Joseph,  2nd. 

Joseph,  2nd,  remained  on  the  home  farm,  and  there  reared  four 
sons,  George,  John  L.,  Joshua  B.,  and  Joseph  R.  (better  known 
as  Rodney).  The  oldest  and  youngest  of  these  spent  their  entire 
lives  on  the  farm.  George  married  a  daughter  of  George  W. 
Lord,  of  Ossipee,  by  whom  he  had  two  children,  George  A.  and 
Susan,  the  wife  of  William  Whitton. 

George  A.  Haines  was  formerly  a  teacher,  and  has  been  for 
several  years  a  member  of  the  school  board.  He  has  charge  of 
the  Haines  farm,  which  includes  the  whole  Packer  lot  and  an  ad- 
ditional hundred  acres.  It  is  very  productive  and  finely  stocked, 
being  accounted  the  best  in  Wolfeborough.  Mr.  Haines  is  of  the 
fifth  generation  that  has  occupied  it. 

John  L.  married  a  sister  of  George's  wife.  He  erected  the 
house  in  Wolfeborough  village  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Henry  Jones. 
Joshua  B.  married  Hannah,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Fernald.  His 


JOSEPH    R.   HAINES 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  233 

son,  Herbert  E.,  is  a  Wolfeborough  merchant,  and  occupies  a 
house  erected  by  his  father  situated  near  the  Brewster  Free 
Academy  grounds.  Joseph  R.  married  the  widow  of  his  brother 
George.  He  was  four  times  elected  a  member  of  the  New  Hamp- 
shire House  of  Representatives  and  was  frequently  the  candidate 
of  a  minority  party. 

John  Haines,  who  occupied  the  farm  in  North  Wolfeborough 
cleared  by  Isaac  Poor,  was  a  brick  mason.  He  served  two  years 
as  town  clerk.  Here  is  a  record  of  the  births  of  his  family  of 
twelve  children:  Lucy  M.,  born  Oct.  4,  1806;  William,  born 
Sept.  i,  1808;  Joshua,  born  Aug.  24,  1810;  John,  born  Aug.  17, 
1812;  Mary  B.,  born  June  I,  1815;  Matthias  M.,  born  May  23, 
1817;  Hannah,  born  May  21,  1819;  Charles  F.,  born  Oct.  2, 
1821;  Martha  J.,  born  Oct.  5,  1823;  Sarah  A.,  born  Aug.  18, 
1825  ;  Arvilla  B.,  born  Aug.  8,  1827  ;  Daniel  J.,  born  June  2,  1829. 

Robert  Hardy  came  from  Exeter  to  Wakefield  in  1792,  and  set- 
tled near  the  locality  where  Union  village  is  now  situated.  There 
he  became  interested  in  building  a  mill.  His  son,  Dudley,  who 
bore  the  name  of  one  of  his  ancestors,  Rev.  Samuel  Dudley,  of 
Exeter,  came  to  Wolfeborough  in  1788,  and  purchased  of  James 
Sheafe,  of  Portsmouth,  one  hundred  acres  of  land  for  three  hun- 
dred and  sixty  dollars,  payable  in  beef  and  cash.  He  seems  to 
have  taken  quite  an  interest  in  mills,  having  at  one  time  a  small 
grist-mill  near  the  Frost  meadow  and  afterwards  one  at  the 
Isaac  \Villey  mill  privilege.  He  established  a  carding  and  fulling 
mill  at  W^ater  Village  in  1814,  which  in  1821  came  into  the  pos- 
session of  George  W.  Lord.  In  1795  he  was  commissioned  lieu- 
tenant in  the  militia  company,  and  finally  rose  to  the  rank  of 
major,  a  title  by  which  he  was  thereafter  designated.  He  served 
as  selectman  ten  years.  He  married  Hannah  Johnson.  Their 
children  were:  Hannah,  born  Dec.  7,  1793,  married  Mark  Wig- 
gin,  2nd;  Sally,  born  Aug.  9,  1795,  married  Isaac  Stanton,  of 
Brook-field  ;  Robert,  born  Sept.  6,  1797,  settled  in  Kennebunk, 
Me. ;  Nabby,  born  Aug.  17,  1799,  married  Thomas  Blake  ;  Dudley, 


234  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

born  Oct.  5,  1803,  went  to  Iowa;  Loammi,  born  Aug.  6,  1805, 
married  Mary  B.  Haines ;  Ezra,  born  Feb.  9,  1808,  married  and 
remained  on  the  farm;  Charles,  born  June  20,  1819,  went  to 
Ossipee. 

Loammi  Hardy  became  a  cripple  in  early  life  from  rheumatism. 
He  learned  the  tailors'  trade,  but  soon  gave  up  the  business  on 
account  of  his  infirmities,  becoming  a  clerk  for  Samuel  Avery. 
In  1838  he  was  elected  town  clerk  of  Wolfeborough,  and  in  1839, 
1840,  and  1842  was  re-elected.  In  1843  ne  was  elected  register 
of  deeds  for  Carroll  County,  and  by  repeated  elections  retained 
the  office  thirty  years,  or  until  the  time  of  his  death.  He  had  six 
children  born  in  Ossipee,  the  place  of  his  residence  after  becom- 
ing register  of  deeds.  His  daughter,  Arvilla,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Rev.  A.  H.  Thompson,  of  Raymond,  X.  H.,  is  the  orilv  one  of 
his  children  residing  in  New  Hampshire. 

Ezra  Hardy  remained  on  the  home  place.  He  had  one  son, 
who  reached  manhood.  Both  father  and  son  have  deceased,  and 
the  farm  is  in  the  possession  of  Henry  Xute.  The  large  elm 
standing  near  the  dwelling-house  was  planted  there  in  1799  by 
Isaac  Poor,  a  neighbor. 

John  Edmonds  resided  in  Portsmouth,  and  possessed  consider- 
able real  estate  in  that  town.  In  1786  his  son  Joseph,  born  in 
1730,  came  to  Wolfeborough,  and  purchased  of  Matthew  S. 
Parker  the  entire  "Neck."  with  the  exception  of  Reuben  Libbey's 
settler's  lot.  Joseph  Edmonds  died  in  1811,  and  his  wife,  Ruth, 
two  years  later.  Their  graves  and  that  of  their  son  Jonathan 
are  in  a  hillside  pasture  on  the  "Neck,"  miles  from  any  human 
habitation,  surrounded  by  a  neatly-built  wall  of  cobbles,  and 
marked  with  engraved  headstones. 

The  children  of  Joseph  and  Ruth  Edmonds  were  John,  Jane, 
Jonathan,  and  Molly,  who  became  the  wife  of  David  Piper.  The 
"Neck"  property  was  divided  between  the  two  sons,  John  and 
Jonathan.  The  children  of  John  were  Joseph,  2nd,  Isaac,  and 
Stephen.  The  last  mentioned  died  of  vellow-fever  at  Ports- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  235 

mouth  in  1814,  while  he  was  serving  as  soldier  at  the  fort.  His 
brother  Isaac  had  been  drafted,  but  he  volunteered  to  act  as  his 
substitute. 

Isaac  married  Betsy  Calder.  He  became  a  blacksmith,  and  set 
up  business  in  what  is  now  Wolfeborough  Falls.  There  he 
erected  the  house  now  owned  by  Timothy  Young,  and  built  a 
shop  on  what  is  now  the  Freewill  Baptist  meeting-house  lot. 
This  was  afterwards  removed  to  the  easterly  side  of  the  highway 
by  Lindley  M.  Hoag  and  used  for  manufacturing  oilcloths.  It 
was  afterward  occupied  as  a  store  by  Parker  &  Wiggin,  and  is 
now  attached  to  the  house  of  the  late  B.  F.  Parker.  Isaac  sub- 
sequently returned  to  his  farm  on  the  "Neck."  He  had  one 
daughter,  Lydia,  born  in  1814,  who  married  Thomas  Johnson. 

Joseph  Edmonds,  2nd,  became  a  carpenter,  and  was  able  to 
accomplish  a  great  amount  of  work.  He  built  many  houses  in 
Wolfeborough  and  its  vicinity.  For  one  hundred  dollars  he  would 
perform  all  the  labor  necessary  to  construct  a  good-sized  two- 
story  house,  hewing  and  framing  the  timber,  and  planing  the  ceil- 
ings, floors,  and  clapboards  without  any  machine  work  what- 
ever. That  was  the  price  which  he  received  for  constructing  the 
house  that  has  been  occupied  by  several  generations  of  the  Rich- 
ard Rust  family.  He  purchased  a  few  acres  of  the  Folsom  farm, 
severed  from  the  main  body  by  the  road  laid  out  in  1799,  and 
some  adjoining  lands,  on  which  he  erected  buildings,  and  estab- 
lished a  home.  He  married  Mary,  the  daughter  of  Jacob  Fol- 
som. 

The  children  of  Stephen,  the  youngest  son  of  Joseph  Edmonds 
were :  Serepta  J.,  married  William  Morrell,  of  Dover ;  Lydia, 
married  A.  J.  McDonald  ;  Laura,  married  Charles  A.  Ellis. 

The  first  Goodwin  to  settle  in  Wolfeborough  was  Elisha,  who 
was  born  in  Kittery,  Me.,  Dec.  7,  1793.  He  married  Betsy  Gil- 
man,  of  Milton,  and  for  several  years  lived  in  New  Durham,  from 
which  town  he  came  to  Wolfeborough.  He  was  a  veteran  of  the 
War  of  1812.  Mr.  Goodwin  was  the  miller  of  what  is  now  known 


236 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


as  Wolfeborough  Falls,  and  raised  a  large  family  of  children.  He 
died  Aug.  7,  1881.  The  children  were:  John  Rimick,  born  Oct. 
i,  1815,  died  March  10,  1832,  Sarah  Leavitt,  born  Feb.  20,  1817, 
died  Aug.  5,  1839 ;  Elisha,  born  Feb.  4,  1819,  married  Martha  A. 
Smith,  1869 ;  Hannah  Colby,  born  May  29,  1822,  married  Capt. 
Silas  May,  Aug.  31,  1847,  died  1864;  Jeremiah  Fogg,  born  July 
16,  1823,  died  in  West,  March  n,  1852;  James  William,  born 
May  9,  1825,  died  young;  Augustine  Decatur,  born  April 
5,  1827,  died  in  Boston,  March  9,  1855  ;  Maria  Pauline,  born 
Dec.  9,  1829,  died  Sept.  18,  1846;  John  Wesley,  born  Feb.  12, 
1832,  died  July  15,  1857;  James  Franklin,  born  June  5,  1834,  was 
a  soldier  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  died  1869 ;  Arvilla  Jane, 
born  April  21,  1836,  married  Roscoe  G.  Holmes,  Aug.  31,  1857; 
Joseph  William.born  May  13,  1838,  married  Ellen  A.  Furber,  June 
19,  1867;  Sarah  Ellen,  born  March  23,  1841,  married  William  W. 
Page. 

Elisha  Goodwin,  second,  acquired  a  considerable  property,  and 
his  fine  residence  is  now  occupied  by  his  widow.  He  built  Good- 
win's block  and  was  a  famous  breeder  of  fine  horses.  He  died 
Jan.  26,  1877. 

Joseph  W.  Goodwin,  another  son,  has  held  many  positions  of 
trust  and  was  postmaster  during  the  first  Cleveland  administra- 
tion. One  of  his  sons,  Elisha,  is  storekeeper  for  the  B.  &  M. 
railroad.  Joseph  W.,  Jr.,  and  Martin  F.  are  both  Harvard  grad- 
uates. Joseph  W.'s  children  are:  Elisha,  born  Aug.  22,  1868, 
Rosa  Gertrude,  born  Apr.  9,  1870,  married  Herbert  P.  Hay  wood ; 
Nellie,  born  March  19,  1872,  died  in  infancy  ;  Joseph  William, 
born  July  5,  1873;  Martin  Furber,  born  Sept.  12,  1875;  Arthur 
Rendall,  born  Jan.  18,  1880. 

Abram  Guptill  was  the  son  of  William  Guptill,  of  Berwick,  Me., 
and  was  born  Aug.  5,  1808.  He  spent  a  portion  of  his  life  at 
sea,  having  command  of  a  vessel  plying  for  ports  in  the  North 
Sea.  He  came  to  Wolfeborough  in  1839  as  superintendent  of  the 
woolen  mills  of  the  Pickering  Manufacturing  Co.,  then  located 


DANMEL  CHUM3ERLAIN 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  237 

on  Smith's  River.  He  continued  in  this  capacity  until  the  fac- 
tory was  burned  in  1842.  He  then  engaged  in  lumbering,  mill- 
ing, and  steamboating  on  the  lake.  He  owned  the  once  famous 
craft,  the  "Dolly  Button."  Soon  after  the  Wolfeborough  rail- 
road was  built,  hlTbecame  station  agent  at  Wolfeborough  Falls, 
then  Mill  Village,  which  position  he  held  until  a  few  years  before 
his  death,  which  occurred  Jan.  17,  1898.  "Uncle  Abram"  Guptill, 
as  he  was  known  to  the  present  generation,  was  a  man  cordially 
esteemed  by  the  community  in  which  he  lived.  Somewhat 
irascible  in  manner  in  his  latter  days,  he  nevertheless  possessed  a 
heart  even  more  generous  than  his  physique,  which  was  far  from 
slender.  The  writer  has  often  remarked  the  uniform  kindness 
with  which  all  who  knew  him  spoke  of  "Uncle  Abram."  Mr. 
Guptill  had  four  children:  Martha  A.,  born  Feb.  9,  1834,  died 
young;  Harriet  F.,  died  young;  Georgianna,  born  May  4,  1835, 
married  Winthrop  D.  Hersey,  Charles  H.,  born  Jan.  13,  1838, 
died  Dec.,  1889,  married  Susan  J.  Thompson. 

John  Chamberlin  was  a  resident  of  Brookfield,  where  he  was 
selectman  for  many  years,  and  several  times  representative  to  the 
legislature.  He  married,  in  1774,  Mary  Jackson;  in  1794,  Joan- 
na Banfielcl.  He  came  to  Wolfeborough  in  1822  and  purchased 
of  William  Triggs  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  David  Cham- 
berlin. He  had  a  large  family  of  children,  and  many  of  his 
descendants  are  now  living  in  Wrolfeborough.  David,  his  eleventh 
child,  was  a  farmer,  tanner,  and  shoemaker,  and  lived  on  the  place 
until  his  death.  His  son,  George  E.  Chamberlin,  is  a  farmer, 
tanner,  and  shoemaker,  and  resides  on  the  old  homestead.  Ira, 
tenth  child  of  John  Chamberlin,  was  a  farmer,  which  avocation 
his  son,  John  A.  Chamberlin,  follows.  John  A.  has  been  super- 
visor several  years,  and  has  served  one  term  as  representative. 
Jason  Chamberlain,  a  former  resident  of  this  town,  removed  to 
Marblehead,  Mass. ;  at  his  death  he  bequeathed  five  hundred 
dollars  for  the  poor  of  Wolfeborough  and  five  hundred  dollars 
for  those  of  Tuftonborough.  Dudley  Chamberlain,  son  of  John, 


238 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


came  to  Wolfeborough  about  1800,  settled  on  a  farm  near  Frost's 
Corner.  His  son  Daniel,  who  became  the  most  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  family  was  born  in  Wolfeborough,  April  12,  1812. 

He  was  the  sixth  of  a  family  of  twerve  children  and  at  the  age 
of  seventeen,  although  his  father  was  well-to-do,  "bought  his 
time"  and  proceeded  to  carve  out  a  career  for  himself.  In  those 
times,  as  today,  Boston  was  the  Mecca  of  the  country-born 
youth,  and  thither  young  Chamberlain  turned  his  steps.  He  first 
went  to  Charlestown,  Mass.,  and  engaged  in  a  variety  of  work, 
including  blacksmithing,  until  he  at  length  embarked  in  the  hotel 
business.  This  he  followed  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
Boston,  July  13,  1879. 

Mr.  Chamberlain  chose  wisely  when  he  decided  upon  his  life 
vocation.  He  successfully  conducted  many  notable  hostleries, 
among  them  being  the  old  Natick  stage  tavern  and  the  old  Pearl 
Street  House  in  Boston.  He  was  best  known,  however,  as  the 
proprietor  of  the  Adams  House  inJ3oston,  with  which  he  was 
identified  for  some  forty  years  and  which  is  still  one  of  the  city's 
leading  hotels. 

His  success  in  life  was  largely  attributable  to  three  things. 
First,  his  natural  kindness  of  heart,  expressed  in  a  marked 
geniality  of  deportment.  He  was  the  ideal  Boniface.  Second,  his 
proverbial  honesty  and  jealous  regard  for  his  word.  Third,  and 
most  important  of  all  perhaps,  he  had  the  encouragement  and 
support  of  a  Wolfeborough  girl  as  his  wife.  This  was  Maria,  a 
daughter  of  Isaac  Martin.  She  was  known  for  her  strong  Chris- 
tian character,  her  unswering  devotion  to  her  family  and  friends, 
and  her  liberal  benefactions  to  the  needy.  She  was  also  a  promi- 
nent figure  in  the  best  social  life  of  Boston  and  was  in  every  sense 
an  admirable  helpmeet  to  her  husband. 

Mr.  Chamberlain's  second  wife  was  Miss  Chapman,  of  Tewks- 
bury.  Five  children,  two  sons  and  three  daughters,  all  by  his 
first  marriage,  survived  him.  While  he  lived,  Mr.  Chamberlain 
always  visited  his  old  home  as  often  as  circumstances  permitted. 


JA'.'ES   BICKFORD 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


239 


A  daughter  occupies,  each  summer,  a  charming  residence  on  the 
lake  shore. 

Cornelius  Jenness  came  from  Rochester  to  Ossipee ;  in  1791 
removed  to  Wolfeborough,  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  occupied 
by  his  great-grandson,  Cyrus  Jenness.  His  son  John  had  twelve 
children,  and  his  son  Joseph  eleven.  There  are  several  repre- 
sentatives living  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town.  Sarah  A. 
Jenness,  a  descendant  of  Cornelius,  enjoys  the  honor  of  being  the 
first  daughter  of  the  county  to  graduate  as  a  physician. 

Jotham,  Stephen,  and  Nicholas  Nute,  brothers,  came  from 
Milton  in  1/98,  and  settled  on  what  is  now  known  as  Nute's 
Ridge.  Their  descendants  still  reside  there.  Tristam,  Paul,  and 
James  Nute,  brothers,  came  from  Madbury  about  1800,  and  set- 
tled in  the  Lords'  Quarter.  George  W.  Nute  represented  one 
branch  of  this  family. 

John  Bickford  was  the  pioneer  of  the  family  in  America.  He 
left  England  to  avoid  conscription,  came  to  Wolfeborough  early, 
and  was  a  weaver.  His  son  Jonathan  was  a  millwright  and  far- 
mer ;  he  settled  on  land  now  occupied  by  his  grandson,  Joseph 
H.,  son  of  James  Bickford.  The  family  have  served  the  town  as 
selectmen  and  representatives.  Wilmot  Bickford  settled  on  the 
farm  where  Thomas  J.  Bickford  until  recently  resided. 

James  Bickford,  son  of  Jonathan,  was  born  Aug.  26,  1802.  He 
was  born  and  always  lived  on  the  farm  occupied  by  the  settler.  He 
was  a  man  of  considerable  importance  in  his  time,  serving  as 
representative  twice  and  selectman  four  years.  He  married 
Eleanor,  the  daughter  of  Phineas  Johnson  and  had  two  children, 
Mary  E.,  born  April  17,  1831,  who  married  Ira  O.  Severance,  of 
Brockton,  Mass.,  and  Joseph  H.,  born  Feb.  I,  1833,  who  mar- 
ried Eliza  A.,  the  daughter  of  David  Cotton.  Joseph  H.  has  held 
the  offices  of  selectman  and  tax  collector. 

About  1796  Samuel,  William,  and  Benjamin  Nudd  came  here 
from  Greenland  and  settled  in  the  north  part  of  the  town.  George 
Nudd's  daughter  Mary  was  a  graduate  of  State  Normal  School, 


240  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUQH. 

Salem,  Mass. ;  was  class  poet.  In  1863  she  wrote  a  poem  for  the 
"Triennial  Convention  of  the  Alumni."  In  1872  she  married 
Thomas  Robinson,  a  professor  in  Howard  University,  Washing- 
ton, D.  C. 

John  Shorey  came  to  Wolfeborough  in  1796.  He  purchased 
one  of  "the  fifty-acre  lots"  on  Pine  Hill,  granted  by  Paul  March 
to  the  first  six  settlers  on  the  main  road,  each  of  whom  was  en- 
titled to  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  This  was  sold  to  Shorey 
by  Abigail,  widow  of  Thomas  Piper.  John  Shorey  was  a  Revolu- 
tionary soldier.  His  son  Joseph  made  the  watering-trough  which 
has  been  by  the  roadside  a  hundred  years.  One  son,  Lyford,  died 
at  the  age  of  ninety-five. 

Josiah  Willey  came  from  Dover.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he 
enlisted  in  the  Revolutionary  army.  Of  his  children  Valentine 
was  a  farmer  and  mill  man.  He  was  clerk  and  deacon  of  the 
Second  Christian  Church.  His  son,  Valentine  B.  Willey,  suc- 
ceeded him  in  business. 

In  1700  James,  William,  John,  and  Joseph  Gate  came  from 
England  to  Portsmouth,  and  settled  in  that  and  neighboring 
towns.  Xeal  Cate,  grandson  of  James,  settled  in  Brookfield  in 
about  1790,  on  a  farm  adjoining  \Volfeborough.  He  had  ten 
children.  Daniel,  his  eldest  son,  located  on  a  farm  in  this  town 
in  1821.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Willey.  Mr.  Wil- 
ley lived  to  the  age  of  ninety-five,  and  his  wife  to  the  age  of  ninety- 
four  ;  they  had  been  married  seventy-five  years.  Mr.  Cate  and 
his  wife  had  been  married  sixty  years.  At  the  time  of  their  death 
Mr.  Cate  was  eighty-eight  years  old,  Mrs.  Cate  eighty-one.  The'y 
had  eight  children.  Moses  T.  and  John  G.  have  been  traders 
and  manufacturers.  Two  sons  of  Moses  T.  have  received  a  col- 
legiate education.  One  has  entered  the  ministry ;  the  other,  E. 
E.  Cate,  has  practiced  law.  James  Cate  received  a  lot  of  land 
from  his  father,  on  which  Charles  J.  Cate  now  lives. 

Tobias  Banfield  came  from  Portsmouth  about  1812  and  pur- 
chased the  farm  since  known  as  the  Banfield  farm.  He  had  eisrht 


GREENLEAF  B.  CLARK 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


241 


children.  Of  his  children,  Joseph  became  a  clergyman ;  his  son 
Everett  C.  became  a  lawyer,  and  after  several  years'  residence  in 
Washington,  D.  C.,  where  he  held  an  important  government  of- 
fice, returned  to  Wolfeborough ;  Joshua  was  for  many  years  a 
merchant  in  Dover;  Nathaniel  served  as  selectman;  he  was  the 
father  of  A.  W.  Banfield,  a  merchant  in  Boston  for  a  long  time. 
The  family  is  now  represented  in  Wolfeborough  by  Ira  Ban- 
field,  son  of  Tobias.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  legislature 
and  treasurer  of  the  Wolfeborough  Savings  Bank. 

Abel  Haley,  at  the  age  of  two  years,  removed  with  his  parents 
from  Rochester  to  Tuftonborough  in  1810,  where  he  eventually 
became  a  leading  citizen,  holding  the  various  offices  that  his 
townsmen  could  bestow  upon  him.  At  the  establishment  of  the 
Lake  Bank,  he  removed  to  Wolfeborough  and  was  its  cashier. 
His  son,  Abel  S.,  has  a  successful  business  in  Faneuil  Hall  mar- 
ket, Boston ;  Levi  T.,  another  son,  resides  in  W'olfeborough,  and 
has  been  engaged  in  various  kinds  of  business.  He  has  been  a 
senator,  and  was  sheriff  of  Carroll  County  when  the  Brookfield 
murderer,  Joseph  W.  Buzzell,  was  executed. 

Joseph  Clark  came  from  Greenland  in  1817  and  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  here.  He  was  a  cabinet-maker.  Of  his  fam- 
ily of  eight  children,  two  resided  in  town,  Mary  (Mrs.  Samuel 
Avery),  and  Enoch,  who  followed  the  avocation  of  his  father. 
Enoch  had  ten  children ;  his  son,  Greenlief  B.,  occupies  the  home- 
stead. He  has  had  an  active  hand  in  the  establishment  of  manu- 
facturing interests  in  Wolfeboro  and  is  a  large  farmer  and  real 
estate  owner. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

INVENTORY  OF  1788 — A  GOOD  GROWTH  INDICATED — ANNUAL 
TOWN  OF  1788 — ACTION  LOOKING  TOWARD  THE  BUILDING 
OF  A  MEETING-HOUSE. 

IN  this  chapter  will  be  given  in  substance  an  inventory  of  Wolfe- 
borough  for  the  year  1788,  five  years  after  the  close  of  the 
war.  when  the  town  had  begun  to  recuperate  a  little.  This,  com- 
bined with  some  knowledge  obtained  from  other  sources  and  con- 
sistent conjecture,  gives  quite  a  clear  view  of  the  pecuniary  con- 
dition of  the  town  and  its  ability  to  accomplish  certain  public 
measures  which  its  inhabitants  were  contemplating ;  viz.,  the 
building  of  a  meeting-house  and  the  settling  of  a  minister. 

Col.  Henry  Rust  was  assessed  for  forty-five  acres  of  improved 
and  five  hundred  and  fifty-five  of  unimproved,  or  wild  land,  show- 
ing that  he  had  as  yet  made  no  division  of  his  six  hundred  acre 
lot,  although  the  sons,  Henry  and  Richard,  had  families,  and 
owned  neat  stock,  including  working  cattle.  The  presumption  is 
that  they  had  been  permitted  to  occupy  and  cultivate  portions  of 
the  Rust  lot,  to  which  the  Colonel  still  claimed  ownership.  The 
father  and  two  sons  possessed  seven  cows,  eight  oxen,  one  horse, 
and  seven  young  cattle. 

James  Connor  had  twenty-four  acres  of  improved  and  upwards 
of  two  hundred  of  wild  land.  This  included  the  ridge  on  which 
are  situated  the  Jerome  and  Tetherly  farms.  He  afterwards  came 
into  possession  of  the  lot  which  has  since  been  known  as  the  Ban- 
field  farm.  He  had  two  cows,  two  oxen,  one  horse,  and  ten  young 
cattle.  It  is  evident  that  he  had  converted  the  money  which  lie 
had  brought  into  the  town  into  land  and  stock. 

The  lots  of  Jacob  Smith,  William  Lucas,  and  James  Lucas, 
Jr.,  were  situated  on  the  main  road,  south  of  the  corner  where 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  243 

the  mill  road  joins  it.  Combined,  they  possessed  six  acres  of 
tillage,  twenty-two  of  mowing,  twelve  of  pasturing,  and  three  hun- 
dred and  sixty  of  wild  land.  They  had  three  cows,  two  horses, 
and  eleven  young  cattle. 

The  estate  of  Benjamin  Evans,  deceased,  had  two  acres  of 
tillage,  sixteen  of  mowing,  sixteen  of  pasturing,  and  eighty-six 
of  wild  land.  On  the  farm  were  two  cows,  one  horse,  and  nine 
young  cattle. 

Moses  Varney  had  four  acres  of  improved  and  two  hundred 
and  eight  of  wild  land,  two  cows,  one  horse,  and  two  young 
cattle.  Mr.  Varney  at  first  purchased  the  Sewall  lot  of  twelve 
acres  heretofore  noticed.  He  subsequently  obtained  possession  of 
two  hundred  acres  of  wild  land.  This  was  probably  situated  east 
of  the  main  road,  opposite  the  Lucas  and  Tibbetts  farms.  At  this 
time  his  son  Joseph  was  seventeen  years  old.  Soon  after  reaching 
his  majority  he  was  in  possession  of  eighty  acres  of  land  that  con- 
stituted a  part  of  his  home  farm.  It  is  quite  probable  that  this 
land  was  a  part  of  his  father's  purchase,  and  that  another  portion 
eventually  became  the  Bassett  farm,  since  the  relations  between 
the  Bassetts  and  Varneys  were  very  close. 

Matthew  S.  Parker  was  assessed  for  five  acres  of  mowing,  two 
of  pasturing,  and  three  hundred  of  wild  land,  also  the  "Mills," 
where,  having  previously  sold  his  "Neck"  farm  to  Joseph  Ed- 
monds, he  had  removed.  It  will  be  observed  that  he  had  no  tillage 
and  only  a  few  acres  of  grass-iand.  This  possibly  might  have 
been  situated  near  the  "Carrying  Place."'  An  incident,  preserved 
in  writing,  indicates  that  he  cleared  the  meadow  there,  and  it  is 
not  altogether  improbable  that  he  might  have  reserved  it  when 
the  "Neck"  farm  was  sold.  The  wild  land,  from  which  he  had 
already  sold  two  hundred  acres  to  Jonathan  Dame,  of  Rochester, 
and  the  lot  for  the  burying-yard,  was  no  doubt  obtained  of  George 
Meserve.  The  "Mills"  were  no  doubt  still  the  property  of  Sewall 
&  Cutter,  Parker  being  assessed  as  the  occupant  of  the  premises. 

Lieut.  Ebenezer  Home  and  his  sons  reported  a  few  acres  in- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


crease  on  the  area  of  their  land  when  purchased  of  John  Flagg. 
This  was  probably  the  result  of  more  accurate  measurement. 
They  reported  four  acres  of  tillage,  forty  of  mowing,  sixty  of 
pasturing  ;  and  four  hundred  and  sixty  of  wild  land,  eight  cows, 
two  oxen,  and  three  horses. 

Andrew  Wiggin  had  two  acres  of  tillage,  ten  of  mowing,  six  of 
pasturing,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  of  wild  land,  one  cow, 
two  oxen,  and  five  young  cattle. 

John  Fullerton  had  one  acre  of  tillage,  six  of  mowing,  six  of 
pasturing,  and  eighty-seven  of  wild  land,  two  cows,  one  horse,  and 
two  young  cattle.  The  inventories  of  his  brother,  James  Fuller- 
ton,  and  Jeremiah  Gould,  his  neighbors,  were  quite  similar,  both 
in  the  amount  of  land  and  the  value  of  stock. 

Benjamin  Blake  had  three  acres  of  tillage,  eleven  of  mowing, 
ten  of  pasturing,  and  eighty  of  wild  land,  two  cows,  one  horse, 
and  six  young  cattle. 

Jonathan  Chase  then  occupied  the  lot  which  was  soon  after 
sold  to  Jacob  Folsom.  He  had  one  acre  of  tillage,  five  of  mowing, 
two  of  pasturing,  and  seventy-four  of  wild  land. 

Ebenezer  Meader  had  two  acres  of  tillage,  ten  of  mowing,  eight 
of  pasturing,  and  eighty-one  of  wild  land,  two  cows,  and  two 
oxen.  Enoch  Thomas  had  an  inventory  of  about  the  same  value. 

Joseph  Lary  had  two  acres  of  tillage,  twelve  of  mowing,  twelve 
of  pasturing,  and  nearly  two  hundred  of  wild  land.  It  is  evident 
that  his  original  settler's  lot,  which,  according  to  tradition,  was  oc- 
cupied by  John  Sinkler  for  a  time,  had  again  come  into  his  pos- 
session, as  subsequently  he  deeded  it  to  Daniel  Wiggin.  He  had 
one  cow,  one  horse,  and  two  young  cattle.  His  son,  Joseph  Lary, 
Jr.,  had  eighty-four  acres  of  wild  land,  one  cow,  and  three  young 
cattle. 

Samuel  Tibbetts  had  two  acres  of  tillage,  nine  of  mowing,  three 
of  pasturing,  and  two  hundred  and  forty  of  wild  land,  one  cow, 
two  oxen,  and  four  young  cattle. 

William  Rogers  had  two  acres  of  tillage,  ten  of  mowing,  six  of 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


245 


pasturing,  and  eighty  of  wild  land,  four  cows,  four  oxen,  one 
horse,  and  one  two-year-old.  It  will  be  observed  that  he  had 
more  than  the  usual  proportion  of  oxen.  From  this  it  may  be  in- 
ferred that  he  was  interested  in  the  lumber  business  at  the  "Mills." 
His  father,  Charles  Rogers,  was  the  owner  of  a  saw-mill  at  Merry 
Meeting,  and  his  son,  Nathaniel,  very  soon  after  reaching  man- 
hood, was  a  manufacturer  of  lumber  at  the  "Mills."  The  three 
generations  having  similar  inclinations  and  opportunities,  would 
very  likely  follow  similar  pursuits. 

Reuben  Libbey  had  two  acres  of  tillage,  twenty  of  mowing, 
sixteen  of  pasturing,  and  five  hundred  of  wild  land,  three  cows,  two 
horses,  and  ten  young  cattle,  indicating  a  high  degree  of  thrifti- 
ness  at  that  time,  the  result  of  industry  and  close  attention  to  his 
private  concerns.  In  subsequent  years  he  was  much  engaged  in 
public  affairs.  He  sold  his  retired  "Neck"  farm,  and  became  quite 
active  in  business  matters.  The  change  did  not  promote  his  per- 
sonal interests. 

Joseph  Edmonds  had  three  acres  of  tillage,  twenty  of  mowing, 
twenty  of  pasturing,  and  four  hundred  of  wild  land,  three  cows, 
four  oxen,  one  horse,  and  one  two-year-old.  This  was  the  Wolfe- 
borough  Neck  lot  which  he  had  recently  purchased  of  Matthew 
S.  Parker.  He  was  a  man  of  means  when  he  came  to  the  town. 

Jonathan  Hersey  had  two  acres  of  tillage,  ten  of  mowing,  eight 
of  pasturing,  and  eighty  of  wild  land,  two  cows,  two  oxen,  one 
horse,  and  five  young  cattle.  He  occupied  his  settler's  lot. 

Thomas  Piper  had  one  acre  of  tillage,  one  of  mowing,  four  of 
pasturing,  and  five  hundred  and  twenty-four  of  wild  land,  also 
one  cow.  He  was  living  on  the  fifty  acre  lot  which  is  now  the 
farm  of  Mrs.  B.  F.  Mason.  The  most  of  the  land  for  which  he 
was  assessed  was  probably  simply  bargained  for.  His  son  John 
occupied  another  fifty  acre  lot,  and  had  two  domestic  animals. 
His  son  David  had  purchased  fifty  acres  of  land  from  the  Pierce 
Great  Lot,  and  had  one  acre  in  tillage  and  two  in  mowing,  and 
one  cow. 


246 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Oliver  Peavey  had  eight  acres  in  mowing  and  two  in  wild 
land.  The  mowing  was  probably  natural  meadow.  His  lot  was 
the  present  farm  of  George  E.  Mason. 

John  Lucas  had  one  acre  of  tillage,  one  of  mowing,  and  forty- 
eight  of  wild  land,  one  cow,  and  two  young  cattle.  His  farm  was 
the  one  now  occupied  by  Henry  J.  Coleman. 

William  Fullerton  had  one  acre  of  tillage,  four  of  mowing,  two 
of  pasturing,  and  forty-three  of  wild  land,  one  cow,  and  four  young 
cattle.  He  occupied  the  most  northwesterly  of  the  fifty  acre  lots, 
adjoining  Tuftonborough. 

Lemuel  Clifford  had  one  acre  of  tillage,  four  of  mowing,  and 
forty-eight  of  wild  land,  one  cow,  and  one  yearling.  His  farm 
was  the  one  lately  occupied  by  Nathan  Shackley. 

Josiah  Leavitt  had  nine  hundred  acres  of  wild  land  and  two 
yearlings.  He  probably  came  from  Stratham,  and  was  at  this 
time  living  on  Wolfeborough  Neck.  Where  were  located  the  nine 
hundred  acres  of  wild  land  for  which  he  was  assessed,  is  not  now 
known.  It  probably  consisted  of  portions  of  proprietors'  lots. 
There  was  at  this  period  prevailing  in  Wolfeborough  quite  a 
mania  for  speculating  in  lands,  persons  bargaining  for  lots  and 
holding  them  for  an  advance  in  price  before  paying  for  them.  Mr. 
Leavitt  did  not  remain  in  Wolfeborough  a  long  time,  but  re- 
moved to  Tuftonborough,  residing  at  one  period  on  what  has  since 
been  known  as  the  George  Fox  farm.  Nov.  6,  1796,  his  daugh- 
ter Polly  was  married  to  Ichabod  Libbey,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Allen,  and 
was  the  mother  of  Josiah  Leavitt  Libbey,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Otis 
Evans. 

John  Furbur  had  his  farm  out  of  the  Thomas  Wentworth  lot. 
He  had  two  acres  of  tillage,  ten  of  mowing,  twelve  of  pasturing, 
and  one  hundred  of  wild  land,  five  cows,  two  oxen,  and  one 
yearling. 

Joseph  Leavitt  had  one  acre  of  tillage,  ten  of  mowing,  twelve 
of  pasturing,  and  seventy-seven  of  wild  land,  two  cows,  one  horse, 
and  four  young  cattle. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  247 

On  the  Cabbottj-Wentworth  Farm  were  ten  acres  of  tillage,  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  mowing,  one  hundred  and  thirty 
acres  of  pasturing,  and  two  thousand  six  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
of  wild  land,  twenty-two  cows,  ten  oxen  two  horses,  and  forty- 
two  young  cattle. 

Colonel  William  Cotton  had  two  acres  of  tillage,  sixteen  of 
mowing,  twelve  of  pasturing,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  wild 
land,  three  cows,  two  oxen,  and  six  young  cattle. 

Samuel  Hide  had  four  acres  of  mowing,  ten  of  pasturing,  and 
eighty-eight  of  wild  land,  two  cows,  one  horse,  and  one  two-year- 
old. 

Aaron  Frost  had  two  and  a  half  acres  of  tillage,  five  of  mow- 
ing, eight  of  pasturing,  and  eighty-four  of  wild  land,  two  cows, 
two  oxen,  one  horse,  and  one  two-year-old. 

Joshua  Haines  had  two  acres  of  tillage,  twelve  of  mowing,  eight 
of  pasturing,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  of  wild  land,  one  cow, 
cne  horse,  and  three  young  cattle.  His  son  Jacob  had  fifty  acres 
of  wild  land,  two  cows,  and  two  young  cattle,  and  his  son  Joseph, 
fifty  acres  of  wild  land,  one  cow,  and  two  young  cattle. 

Perry  Hardy,  located  in  the  Lords'  Quarter,  had  one  and  a 
half  acres  of  tillage,  five  of  mowing,  and  forty-four  of  wild  land, 
two  cows,  two  oxen,  and  one  horse. 

Joseph  Kemston  had  one  acre  of  tillage,  five  of  mowing,  four 
of  pasturing,  and  forty  of  wild  land,  one  cow,  and  two  young 
cattle. 

John  Swazey,  on  the  north  side  of  the  town,  had  one  acre  of 
tillage,  eight  of  mowing,  four  of  pasturing,  and  eighty-four  of 
wild  land,  two  cows,  two  oxen,  and  one  horse. 

Samuel  Tibbetts,  Jr.  had  one  hundred  acres  of  wild  land,  two 
cows,  two  oxen.  John  Shorey  had  two  cows,  one  horse,  and  two 
young  cattle.  John  Warren,  George  Warren,  and  James  Marden 
had  each  fifty  acres  of  wild  land,  and  Marden  had  a  cow. 

John  Martin  was  assessed  for  three  and  a  half  acres  of  tillage, 
twenty  of  mowing,  forty  of  pasturing,  and  thirty-seven  of  wild 


248 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


land,  six  cows,  two  oxen,  one  horse,  and  five  young  cattle  on  the 
east  side  of  the  town.  He  was  also  assessed  for  one  hundred 
acres  on  the  west  side,  which  he  intended  for  his  son  Isaac.  It 
was  the  Banfield  place  already  referred  to.  Young  Martin  de- 
cided not  to  occupy  it  on  account  of  its  heavy  growth. 

William  Triggs  had  one  acre  of  tillage,  six  of  mowing,  four  of 
pasturing,  and  sixty-seven  of  wild  land,  two  cows,  two  oxen,  one 
horse,  and  one  three-year-old. 

The  names  of  the  persons  assessed  not  already  mentioned  were 
William  Rust.  Jesse  Whitton,  Chase  Wiggin,  Paul  Blazo,  Eben 
Home,  Jr.,  Stephen  Home,  Isaiah  Home.  John  Home,  Ben- 
jamin Home,  Benjamin  Wiggin,  James  Wiggin.  Paul  Wiggin, 
Levi  Tebbetts.  Xehemiah  Lucas,  Eben  Tebbetts.  Jonathan  Ed- 
monds, John  Lary.  Deering  Stoddard,  Nathaniel  Brown,  William 
Cotton.  Jr.,  John  P.  Cotton,  Edmund  Tebbetts,  Thomas  Cotton, 
John  Cotton,  Joseph  Cotton.  These  were  mostly  young  men, 
with  little  or  no  inventory. 

The  sum  of  the  inventory  was  eighty-four  polls,  eighty-two 
acres  of  tillage,  five  hundred  and  fourteen  of  mowing,  and  five 
hundred  and  thirty-two  of  pasturing  land,  one  hundred  and 
twenty-nine  cows,  sixty-seven  oxen,  thirty-four  horses,  and  one 
hundred  and  ninety-two  young  cattle.  At  first  it  may  seem 
strange  that  while  the  town  had  less  than  one  hundred  acres  in 
tillage,  it  had  more  than  one  thousand  in  grass.  It  is,  however, 
to  be  considered  that  it  possessed  considerable  tracts  of  natural 
grass,  and  that  forests  were  more  easily  converted  into  grass-lands 
by  burning  than  into  tillage  by  ploughing. 

Notwithstanding  the  poverty  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  and 
the  pressure  of  corporate  and  individual  debts,  the  auguries  of 
the  inventory  were  encouraging,  indicating  speedy  and  permanent 
prosperity.  Almost  the  entire  population  consisted  of  the  earlier 
settlers  and  their  descendants,  there  being  less  than  a  dozen  per- 
sons who  paid  a  poll  tax  only.  Nearly  every  young  man  was  as- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


249 


sessed  for  a  few  acres  of  unimproved  land  or  one  or  more  young 
cattle.     Such  careful  forethought  assured  ultimate  success. 

Comparing  the  foregoing  inventory  with  that  of  1782,  an  in- 
crease of  twenty-six  polls,  three  hundred  and  ninety  acres  of  im- 
proved land,  twenty-nine  cows,  seven  oxen,  two  horses,  and  one 
hundred  and  seventeen  young  cattle  is  shown.  The  difference  in 
the  increase  of  the  several  items  is  quite  suggestive.  That  of  the 
number  of  polls  and  acres  of  improved  land  may  be  regarded  as 
normal ;  that  of  the  number  of  oxen  indicates  that  they  were  not 
yet  much  used  in  agricultural  pursuits,  the  axe  still  taking 
precedence  of  the  plow.  The  small  change  in  the  number  of 
horses,  an  increase  of  only  two,  shows  that  they  were  accounted 
of  comparatively  little  practical  value,  not  being  worked  or  much 
used  except  for  horse-back  riding  on  short  journeys.  There 
might  have  been  a  few  raised  on  the  Wentworth  Farm,  but  with 
that  exception,  probably  not  a  colt  was  foaled  in  the  town  of 
Wolfeborough  during  the  first  twenty  years  of  its  corporate  exist- 
ence. The  marked  increase  of  young  cattle  indicates  that  the 
breeding  of  neat  stock  was  the  leading  industry.  It  continued  to 
be  such  until  near  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century,  when  other 
domestic  animals  began  to  receive  greater  attention  from  the 
farmer.  For  a  few  years  such  was  the  interest  in  raising  cattle 
and  such  the  necessity  of  promoting  their  increase,  that  veal,  al- 
though not  legally,  was  prudentially  interdicted  as  an  article  of 
food. 

According  to  the  foregoing  inventory  there  were  in  Wolfe- 
borough  eleven  hundred  and  twenty-eight  acres  of  improved  and 
ten  thousand  three  hundred  and  sixty-seven  of  wild  land  owned 
by  residents  of  Wolfeborough. 

Here  follows  a  list  of  the  non-residents'  wild  land,  arranged 
according  to  location : — 


250  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


In  the  Masonian  Proprietors'  Division. 

Lots                 Owners  Amount  of  Land 

2  M.  H.  Wentworth  200  acres 

3  Richard  Wibird  300  " 
5  Mason  &  Tomlinson  300  " 

7  John  Rindge  300  " 

8  Blanchard  &  Meserve  300  " 
10  Theodore  Atkinson  300  " 

12  George  JafTrey  300  " 

13  Solley  &  March  200  " 

14  John  Moffatt  300  " 

16  Jotham  Odiorne  300  " 

17  John  Wentworth  300  " 

Total     3100  " 


In  Wolfeborough  Addition. 

Lots                 Owners  Amount  of  Land 

1  Jonathan  Warner  400  acres 

2  James  Stoodley  400     " 

3  Hall  Jackson  400     " 

4  George  Meserve  200     " 

4  Richard  Tucker  100     " 

5  Stephen  Batson  500     " 

Total     2000     '' 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBORODGH.  251 

In  Wolfeborough  Town  Proprietors'  Division. 

Lots  Owners  Amount  of  Land 

9  George  Meserve  342  acres 

10  George  Meserve  448 
21  George  Meserve  350 

8  Daniel  Rindge  448     " 

11  Doct.  Brackett  100     " 

12  Thomas  Wentworth  400 

13  Capt.  George  King  430 

1 6  David  Sewall  188     " 

17  William  Torrey  327 

19  Nathaniel   P.   Sargent  460     " 

19  David  Copp  255     " 


Total     3748 

Sum  of  totals  of  non-residents'  wild  land  8848  " 

Resident  proprietors'  wild  land  10367 

Total  of  wild  land  19215  " 

Improved  land  1128  " 

Acres  of  land  inventoried  20343  " 


Here  is  inserted  a  copy  of  the  doings  of  the  annual  town  meet- 
ing as  taken  by  the  clerk  for  the  record  book  without  revision. 
It  is  interesting,  as  showing  the  manner  of  doing  town  business  a 
hundred  years  ago.  It  also  treats  of  some  matters  relating  to  the 
meeting-house,  which  will  be  the  subject  of  the  next  chapter.  It 
is  the  last  annual  town-meeting  that  the  efficient  town  officer, 
Matthew  S.  Parker,  ever  attended,  he  dying  before  the  close  of  the 
year. 

"Minutes  taken  at  the  Annual  Town  Meeting  held  at  William 
Rogers  in  the  Town  Wolfboro'  March  the  29  1788 


252 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


1  Voted  Joshua  Haines  Moderator  ^ 

2  Voted  Ebenezer  Meder  James  Lucas  Jr  >  Select  Men 
Matthew  S.  Parker  ) 

3  Voted  Matthew  S.  Parker  Town  Clerk 

4  Voted  Thomas  Piper  Constable 

5  Voted  Isaiah  Home  Andrew  Wiggin    ^ 

/Surveyors  of 
Richard  Rust  John  Sweasev  > 

&  Col.  William  Cotton  )  H'gh  WayS 

6  Voted  William  Fullerton  &  Col.  William  Cotton  Tything  Men 

7  Voted  that  the  Surveyors  of  the  High  Ways  be  Fence  Viewers 

8  Voted  John  Home  John  Lucas  Aaron  Frost  Hog  Reeves 

9  Voted  Moses  Varney  Culler  of  Lumber 

10  Voted  Ebenezer  Meder  Sealer  Weight  &  Measures 

11  Voted  Samuel  Tibbitts  Pound  &  Deer  Keeper 

12  Voted  Joseph  Edmund  Sealer  of  Leather 

13  Voted  Isaiah  Home  &  Col.  Cotton  Auditors 

14  The  Collectors  office  being  Set  up  to  Vendue  for  the  lowest 
Bidder,  The  same  being  done  it  was  accordingly  struck  off  to 
John  Home  at  two  &  an  half  Per  Cent 

15  Voted  That  the  Sum  of  Sixty  pounds  be  raised  &  laid  out  on 
the  High  Ways  agreeable  to  the  Warrants  from  Select  Men 

16  Voted  That  the  Respective  Surveyors  be  &  are  hereby  im- 
powered  at  any  Time  in  the  Winter  Season,  when  ever  the 
high  ways  are  rendered  very  difficult  or  impassable  for  Teams, 
by  Blocking  Snows  to  Call  upon  the  Severall  Persons   Be- 
longing to  their  respective  Districts  for  Assistance  of  Men  & 
Oxen  to  Break  open  &  make  the  same  passable  for  Teams,  & 
in  Case  any  Person  or  Persons  refuse  to  turn  out  himself  & 
Oxen  that  they  be  &  hereby  are  made  liable  to  a  fine  of  Six 
shillings  for  himself  &  Six  shillings  for  each  Yoke  of  Cattle 
of  his  Customary  working  Cattle,  the  same  to  be  taken  by 
the  Surveyors  from  each  Person  so  refusing  by  Destraint  as  in 
Collecting  other  Taxes 

17  It  was  put  to  Vote  whether  the  Pews  in  the  Meeting  House 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  253 

be  exposed  to  Sale  towards  compleating  the  same,  which  was 
determined  by  Poll  in  favour  of  the  Sale  &  that  Col.  William 
Cotton  Mr.  Andrew  Wiggin  &  Ebenezer  Meader  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  Draw  a  Plan  of  the  Pews  to  be  in  the  Meeting  House 
&  Expose  the  same  for  Sale  at  a  Public  Vendue,  &  that  the 
time  of  Sale  &  Conditions  thereof  &  the  appropriating  of  the 
Money  Arising  from  the  Sale  towards  finishing  the  Meeting 
House  be  left  in  the  Power  of  said  Committee 

18  Voted  That  Mr.  Samuel  Tibbitts  be  allowed  five  shillings  Per 
Day  while  Framing  the  Meeting  House 

19  Voted  That  Mr.  Benjamin  Durgin  be  abated  his  Taxes  which 
remain  unpaid  at  this  Time  &  that  he  be  not  tax'd  for  the  future 

20  A  President  being  Voted  for  there  appeared  Twenty  Seven  for 
John  Sullivan  Esquire  &  Five  for  John  Langdon 

21  Senators  being  Voted  for  there  appeared  to  be  Nineteen  for 
Daniel  Becle  Esquire  &  Nineteen  for  Col.  Thomas  Waldron 

22  A  County  Recorder  being  Voted  for  there  appeared  to  be 
Twenty  three  for  John  B.  Hanson 

23  A  County  Treasurer  being  Poll'd  for  there  appeared  to  be 
Twenty  for  John  B.  Hanson 

24  That  this  Meeting  be  adjourned  to  Thursday  the  third  Day 
of  April  next  at   10  Oclock  A.  M.  at  this  place  &  that  the 
Select  Men  are  hereby  directed  to  Call  upon  all  persons  that 
have  accounts  open  with  the  Town  to  Close  the  same  im- 
mediately that  the  said  Accounts  may  be  laid  before  the  Audi- 
tors at  the  adjournment. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE  MEETING-HOUSE — PLEDGED  DONATIONS  FROM  PROPRIETORS 
—DELAYS — EXCHANGE  OF  LOTS — LABOR  TAX — NEW  PRO- 
POSAL OF  PROPRIETORS — PURCHASE  OF  PEWS  AND  SALE  OF 
LUMBER — THE  BUILDERS — TIME  REQUIRED  TO  BUILD 
—THE  COST — HOUSE  DESCRIBED — CHANGE  TO  TOWN- 
HOUSE— PART  OF  LOT  SOLD — THE  BURYING-YARD — FIRES. 

THE  settlers  of  New  England  were  a  religious  people.  In  new- 
ly settled  towns  the  grantors  of  lands  usually  made  some  pro- 
vision for  building  meeting-houses  and  settling  ministers.  One 
of  the  conditions  imposed  on  the  grantees  of  Wolfeborough  was 
that  in  eight  years  after  peace  should  be  established  between  the 
English  and  the  French  and  Indians  a  convenient  meeting-house 
should  be  built  in  the  town,  unless  other  wars  should  arise. 

It  proved,  however,  very  difficult  to  obtain  settlers  for  Wolfe- 
borough,  and  no  permanent  homes  were  established  in  the  town 
until  nine  years  after  the  date  of  the  grant.  Seven  years  after 
arose  the  long-protracted  and  exhausting  conflict  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  American  colonies,  during  which  struggle  Wolfe- 
borough  became  partially  depopulated  and  greatly  impoverished. 

In  November,  1773,  when  Governor  Wentworth  was  establish- 
ing his  country  home  in  the  town,  and  appearances  indicated 
speedy  and  permanent  prosperity,  the  grantors  voted  a  donation 
of  thirty  pounds,  lawful  money,  towards  building  a  meeting- 
house forty  feet  long  and  thirty  feet  wide,  and  appointed  Col. 
Henry  Rust  and  Dr.  A.  R.  Cutter  a  committee  to  attend  to  the 
matter. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  held  March  30,  1774,  the  subject 
254 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  255 

of  building  a  meeting-house  was  brought  forward  for  considera- 
tion, but  the  town  declined  to  vote  any  money  for  the  purpose,  a 
wise  conclusion,  as  it  was  in  no  condition  to  engage  in  an  under- 
taking requiring  so  great  an  outlay ;  nor  would  it  be  strange  if 
even  then  some  of  the  more  sagacious  of  the  citizens  could  hear 
the  mutterings  of  the  war-clouds  so  soon  to  burst  upon  them. 
During  the  twelve  succeeding  years  neither  the  Masonian  nor 
the  town  proprietors  took  any  further  action  in  relation  to  the 
matter. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  held  March  13,  1786,  the  question 
again  came  up,  and  after  deliberation,  Cols.  Henry  Rust  and 
William  Cotton  were  appointed  a  committee  to  confer  with  the 
Masonian  proprietors  and  endeavor  to  obtain  a  more  desirable 
lot  of  land  for  "public  uses"  than  the  one  which  had  been  selected 
for  that  purpose.  The  committee  was  successful  in  its  mission, 
and  through  the  generosity  of  Mr.  Cabbott  the  proprietor  of  the 
VVentworth  Farm,  an  exchange  of  land  was  effected  and  a  de- 
sirable location  obtained  in  proprietary  lot  numbered  eighteen, 
which  was  situated  on  the  northerly  side  of  the  highway  leading 
from  the  "Mills"  to  the  College  Road  and  originally  drawn  by 
Daniel  Rindge.  At  the  same  meeting  it  was  also  voted  that  if 
the  committee  were  successful  in  securing  a  proper  lot  for  public 
uses,  a  tax  of  one  hundred  dollars,  to  be  worked  out  under  the 
direction  of  the  highway  surveyors,  should  be  assesed  on  the  in- 
habitants of  the  town  "for  the  purpose  of  clearing  a  place  and 
building  a  meeting-house."  This  tax  was  assessed  on  seventy  dif- 
ferent persons  and  properties,  and  varied,  with  the  exception  of 
that  on  the  Cabbott-Wentworth  Farm,  which  was  eighty-four  and 
a  quarter  days,  from  one  and  three-fourths  to  sixteen  days.  It  was 
worked  out  in  the  year  1787. 

One  of  the  duties  of  Rust  and  Cotton,  the  committee  chosen 
in  1786.  was  to  confer  with  the  Masonian  proprietors  and  ascer- 
tain to  what  extent  they  were  willing  to  aid  in  building  a  meeting- 
house and  settling  a  minister. 


256 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


It  has  already  been  noticed  that  in  1773  they  had  offered  to 
give  for  these  purposes  thirty  pounds  in  cash.  On  account  of  the 
prevailing  scarcity  of  money,  even  among  the  more  wealthy,  how- 
ever, they  now  wished  to  donate,  instead  of  the  cash,  the  following 
articles :  twenty-five  thousand  four-penny  nails,  fifteen  thousand 
six-penny  nails,  ten  thousand  ten-penny  nails,  three  thousand 
twenty-penny  nails,  thirty  gallons  of  West  India  rum,  one  quintal 
of  fish,  fifty  pounds  of  sugar,  fifty  pounds  of  coffee,  eight  pounds 
of  tea,  and  two  hundred  feet  of  glass,  eight  by  ten.  On  the  ninth 
day  of  November,  1/86,  the  town  voted  to  accept  the  offer  made 
by  the  proprietors  as  their  proportion  in  full  for  building  a  meet- 
ing-house, and  appointed  Col.  Henry  Rust,  Matthew  S.  Parker, 
and  Ebenezer  Meder  a  committee  to  receive,  transport,  and  store 
the  articles  donated  until  the  town  should  otherwise  direct. 

Joshua  Haines,  Samuel  Tibbetts,  Matthew  S.  Parker,  William 
Cotton,  and  Andrew  Wiggin  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
draw  a  plan  for  the  meeting-house,  and  contract  for  lumber  for 
frame  and  covering  for  the  same.  It  was  also  voted  to  clear  four 
acres  of  the  lot  on  which  it  was  proposed  to  set  it. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  of  March,  1787,  a  plan  of  a  meet- 
ing-house was  presented  for  examination,  but  was  not  accepted , 
and  Matthew  S.  Parker  was  instructed  to  draw  one  like 
the  meeting-house  in  Middleton  "with  such  amendments  as 
he  shall  think  for  the  best."  The  plan  drawn  by  Parker  was  for 
a  two-story  building  fifty-two  feet  long  and  forty-two  feet  wide, 
with  a  porch  twelve  feet  long  and  ten  feet  wide. 

Notwithstanding  the  votes  passed  by  the  citizens  of  \Volfe- 
borough  in  1786  and  the  early  part  of  1787,  the  work  requisite  for 
building  the  meeting-house  had  progressed  very  slowly,  and  at 
the  close  of  1787  this  only  had  been  done — the  clearing  of  a  por- 
tion of  the  lot  and  the  erecting  of  the  frame.  One  reason  of  the 
delay  is  apparent  from  the  following  letter  addressed  to  one  of 
the  Masonian  proprietors  : — 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  257 

"Wolfborough,  February,  1788. 

Sir, — As  the  time  draws  near  for  our  annual  town  meeting, 
when  the  business  respecting  the  meeting-house  will  come  on  the 
carpet,  and  but  a  small  part  of  those  articles  which  were  voted  by 
the  proprietors  for  the  encouragement  thereof  have  been  received, 
we  have  thought  proper  to  write  you  respecting  the  matter,  and 
desire  that  such  preparation  may  be  made  for  procuring  the  re- 
mainder, that  we,  as  a  committee,  may  have  it  in  our  power  to 
lay  before  the  town  at  their  next  meeting  the  situation  thereof, 
which  we  sincerely  wish  may  be  on  the  encouraging  hand,  other- 
wise, we  are  apprehensive  of  its  being  the  cause  of  stagnating 
our  plan  for  a  meeting-house  greatly,  especially  as  we  have  now 
got  the  frame  raised  and  were  in  great  expection  of  having  the 
nails  ready  for  boarding  it  early  in  the  spring  or  summer  en- 
suing. We  shall  be  exceeding  obliged  if  you  will  take  the  trouble 
of  starting  the  affair  from  its  present  stagnated  situation  ;  other- 
wise, gratify  us  with  a  line  respecting  the  matter  prior  to  our 
annual  meeting,  which  will  come  on  the  last  Tuesday  in  March 
next,  that  we  may  give  an  account  of  our  stewardship.  Your 
compliance  will  much  oblige 

Your  most  obedient  Humble  Servants, 

Matthew  S.  Parker, 
For  the  meeting-house  committee." 


At  the  annual  town  meeting  held  in  March,  1788,  Col.  William 
Cotton,  Andrew  Wiggin,  and  Ebenezer  Meder  were  chosen  a 
meeting-house  committee,  and  the  town  voted  to  sell  the  pews 
of  the  still  unconstructed  building  to  provide  means  for  finishing 
it.  Subsequently  the  following  notice  was  posted  : — 


258 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


"PuuMCK  AUCTION 


On  Thursday,  the  8th  day  of  May  next,  will  be  sold  at  publick 
vendue  to  the  highest  bidder  at  the  dwelling-house  of  Matthew 
S.  Parker  in  Wolfborough,  the  pews  to  be  built  in  the  meeting- 
house as  drawn  and  numbered  in  a  plan  which  will  be  seen  at  the 
above  time  and  place,  as  well  as  the  conditions  of  said  sale. 

Also  at  the  same  time  and  place  will  be  exposed  to  sale  to  the 
lowest  bidder  the  lumber  to  be  procured  for  completing  the  out- 
side of  said  meeting-house ;  viz,  eight  thousand  merchantable 
pine  boards,  four  thousand  good  laying  clapboards,  and  twenty 
thousand  good  laying  shingles,  all  to  be  delivered  at  the  meeting- 
house on  or  before  the  first  day  of  June  next. 

Wolfborough,  April  24,  1788. 
(Signed  by  the  committee)" 


It  mav  be  interesting  to  know  that  the  important  business 
which  followed  this  announcement  was  transacted  at  the  mill 
house,  then  the  residence  of  Matthew  S.  Parker,  the  cellar  of 
which  may  still  be  seen  near  the  garden  of  R.  M.  Flanders  in 
Wolfeborough  Falls.  William  Cotton  was  appointed  venclue- 
master  and  Matthew  S.  Parker,  clerk  of  the  sale.  The  following 
were  some  of  the  conditions :  Any  dispute  on  any  matter  was  to 
be  decided  by  a  major  vote  of  the  company  present ;  no  bid  of  less 
than  one  shilling  was  to  be  accepted ;  all  purchasers  of  pews  were 
required  to  give  to  the  meeting-house  committee  an  obligation 
to  pay  the  amount  of  their  purchases  either  in  neat  stock  or  pro- 
duce, at  their  own  option,  the  stock  to  be  delivered  by  the  first 
day  of  the  following  October,  and  the  produce  by  the  first  day  of 
December.  The  several  purchasers  gave  notes  to  the  committee 
for  the  amount  of  their  purchases,  which  were  subsequently  can- 
celed by  various  methods  of  payment. 

Here  follows  an  account  of  the  sale : — 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


259 


Number 

Purchaser 

Price 

of  pew 

29 

Isaiah  Home 

^6:15 

3i 

Thomas  Piper 

7:  3 

21 

Reuben  Libbey 

6:  3 

22 

Andrew  Wiggin 

4:  3 

30 

John  Martin 

6:  5 

32 

William  Triggs 

5:n 

23 

Levi  Tibbetts 

4:  5 

26 

James  Connor 

4:  6 

25 

Andrew  Lucas 

4:  4 

27 

Jonathan  Hersey 

5: 

28 

William  Fullerton 

4:  4 

I 

Captain  Joseph  Lary 

9: 

2O 

Col.  Henry  Rust 

9:  i 

6 

James  Connor 

8:  3 

15 

Matthew  S.  Parker. 

5:  4 

16 

James  Lucas,  Jr. 

5:i3 

5 

William  Lucas 

6:  2 

2 

Jonathan  Hersey 

8:10 

II 

William  Rogers 

7:  i 

19 

Samuel  Tibbitts,  Sen. 

7:10 

3 

William  Cotton 

6 

13 

David  Piper 

5:  i 

18 

Henry  Rust,  Jr. 

5:  5 

8 

John  Martin 

4:11 

9 

John  Swazey 

5:  9 

12 

Benjamin  Home 

5:  4 

17 

Jonathan  Hersey 

7:10 

14 

James  Fullerton 

5:n 

4 

John  Fullerton 

4:  6 

7 

Joshua  Haines 

5:    2 

24 

Jacob  Smith 

4:  3 

Manner  of  paying 

neat  stock 

labor,  lumber—furnished 

(pillars) 
labor 

labor  in  business 
cash,    lumber,    produce, 

nails,  (Merrill) 
lumber,  Libbey 
Libbey 
labor,  lumber 
labor,  Merrill 
lumber,  labor 

Libbey 

labor,     lumber,     hauling 
stores 

labor,  lumber,  Libbey, 
(Rogers,  Merrill) 

lumber 

labor,  Merrill 

labor,  Libbey 

labor,  lumber 

sundries,  supplies,  Mer- 
rill 

labor,  cash 

labor  in  business 

labor,  lumber 

lumber,  produce 
lumber,  Libbey 
labor,  Libbey 
labor,  lumber 
labor,  lumber,  Libbey 
labor,  lumber,  Libbey 
neat  stock,  cash 
labor,     Moses     Varney, 
Merrill 


26o  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

At  this  stage  of  the  proceedings  William  Rogers  proposed  to 
take  the  job  of  finishing  the  meeting-house  by  contract,  and, 
agreeable  to  a  vote  of  a  majority  of  the  company  present,  the 
matter  of  contracting  for  the  lumber  was  postponed.  The  bar- 
gain between  Rogers  and  the  meeting-house  committee  failed 
of  consummation,  however,  and  another  meeting  was  held  at 
Parker's  on  the  26th  of  May,  to  contract  for  the  lumber  neces- 
sary to  finish  the  outside  of  the  meeting-house.  The  amount  re- 
quired, it  was  estimated,  would  be  ten  thousand  feet  of  pine 
boards,  four  and  a  half  thousand  clapboards,  and  twenty-two 
thousand  shingles,  to  be  delivered  at  the  meeting-house  lot  by 
the  middle  of  the  following  June.  The  lumber  was  divided  into 
small  lots  so  that  the  purchasers  of  pews  could  pay  for  them  in 
that  commodity  if  they  so  chose. 

On  the  sixth  day  of  July  the  committee  contracted  with  Reuben 
Libbey  to  do  the  work  necessary  to  complete  the  outside  of  the 
meeting-house.  Here  follows  a  portion  of  the  contract,  which 
gives  some  idea  as  to  the  structure  of  the  building. 

Libbey  agrees  "to  underpin  the  frame  of  the  meeting-house 
outside  and  inside  with  good  suitable  rocks,  the  outside  to  be 
done  in  as  strong  and  decent  a  manner  as  the  rocks  will  admit 
of ;  to  build  and  completely  finish  the  outside  of  a  porch  over  the 
front  door  twelve  feet  long  and  ten  feet  wide  of  the  same  height 
as  the  house  with  a  hip  roof,  and  to  have  three  doors,  one  on  each 
side  and  one  in  the  end  directly  opposite  the  front  door  of  the 
house ;  also  to  put  in  the  window  frames  and  sashes  and  properly 
glaze  the  whole  house,  being  sixteen  windows  in  the  lower  story 
and  sixteen  in  the  upper  story  of  twenty-four  squares  of  eight 
by  ten  glass  and  one  in  the  pulpit  of  the  same  size  and  two  in 
each  gable  end  and  one  in  the  porch  of  twelve  squares  each ;  to 
finish  the  whole  outside  of  the  house  as  to  boarding,  clap-boarding 
and  shingling,  with  suitable  weather-boards  and  cant-boards  over 
the  lower  windows  and  around  the  sills  and  a  proper  hat-case  over 
the  front  door  in  the  porch  ;  the  other  doors  to  have  only  proper 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  26l 

cant-boards,  the  front  door  in  the  porch  and  the  two  end  doors 
in  the  house  to  be  double,  four-paneled,  two-leaved,  the  two  side 
doors  in  the  porch  to  be  plain  double  doors  well-nailed,  the  whole 
to  be  hung  with  substantial  iron  hinges." 

The  committee  were  to  pay  Libbey  eighty-one  pounds  and 
twelve  shillings  in  neat  stock  and  produce  as  expressed  in  the 
securities  given  by  the  purchasers  of  the  pews,  which  securities 
he  agreed  to  take.  They  also  agreed  to  furnish  all  the  material 
necessary  to  complete  the  job,  the  lumber  to  be  delivered  at  the 
meeting-house,  and  the  other  material  at  Ebenezer  Meder's  house 
by  the  twentieth  day  of  the  coming  August.  Twenty-five  lots  of 
lumber  were  delivered  at  about  the  following  prices  :  boards,  three 
and  a  half  dollars  a  thousand  feet ;  clap-boards,  six  dollars ; 
shingles,  one  and  a  half  dollars.  All  the  lumber  was  to  be  of  first 
quality  pine.  Of  course  the  clapboards  and  shingles  were  rived 
and  shaved.  The  contract  required  the  completion  of  the  job  by 
the  first  day  of  December. 

July  1 6,  1/89,  the  places  for  twenty-three  pews  in  the  gallery 
were  sold  at  prices  averaging  one  and  a  half  pounds.  Reuben 
Libbey  purchased  nine ;  Ebenezer  Meder,  Thomas  Piper,  An- 
drew Lucas,  Samuel  Tibbetts,  and  John  Home,  two  each  ;  John 
Shorey,  David  Piper,  John  Piper,  and  Andrew  Wiggin,  one  each. 

During  1789  and  most  of  1790  very  little  was  done  towards 
completing  the  meeting-house.  Two  town-meetings  were  held  in 
it,  however. 

September  I,  1790,  the  meeting-house  committee  made  a  con- 
tract with  Jesse  and  Eliphalet  Merrill,  of  Stratham,  to  proceed 
with  the  finishing  of  the  house.  The  Merrills  agreed  to  lay  a 
planed  floor  over  the  whole  house,  to  case  the  windows  in  the 
lower  story,  and  to  finish  thirty-two  pews.  The  committee  was 
to  furnish  all  the  material  for  the  job  delivered  on  the  spot,  and 
pay  the  Merrills  thirty-four  pounds  in  neat  stock.  As  they  laid 
the  under  floor  and  set  the  six  pillars  supporting  the  gallery,  the 
whole  bill  amounted  to  thirty-five  pounds  and  seven  shillings. 


262  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

The  job  was  completed  by  the  middle  of  October,  and  they  were 
paid  in  some  manner  by  fourteen  individuals. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  1791,  it  was  voted  that  Stephen  W. 
Home  lay  out  any  balance  due  on  the  labor-tax  on  the  meeting- 
house, and  if  any  further  outlay  should  be  needed  to  secure  the 
building  from  accident,  that  he  be  authorized  to  call  on  the  town 
for  assistance. 

At  the  annual  town-meeting,  which  had  been  adjourned  to 
the  second  Tuesday  in  June,  the  accounts  of  the  meeting-house 
committee  were  read  and  approved,  and  the  committee  thanked 
for  their  faithful  services.  It  seems  to  have  been  expected  that 
from  this  time  the  selectmen  of  the  town  should  have  general 
oversight  of  the  meeting-house  business. 

It  was  voted  that  the  "privileges"  for  four  pews  on  the  ground 
floor  of  the  house  be  sold  at  public  auction,  and  that  the  money 
resulting  from  such  a  sale  be  used  in  "aiding  to  build  a  pulpit" 
as  soon  as  suitable  lumber  for  constructing  one  could  be  pro- 
cured, also,  that  the  selectmen  should  assess  a  tax  for  finishing 
the  pulpit. 

The  "privileges"  for  pews  were  sold  June  thirtieth,  James  Wig- 
gin  purchasing  two  and  Reuben  Libbey  and  Samuel  Tibbetts, 
Jr.  one  each.  The  proceeds  of  the  sale  amounted  to  thirteen  and 
a  half  pounds.  The  purchasers  were  required  to  seasonably  con- 
struct the  pews.  George  Freeze,  an  out-of-town  man,  built  the 
pulpit,  receiving  for  his  labor  nine  pounds,  eight  shillings  and 
his  board.  At  a  town-meeting  held  September  5,  1791,  it  was 
voted  to  build  a  canopy  over  the  pulpit  "as  soon  as  may  be," 
and  that  a  sum  sufficient  for  the  purpose  be  raised  on  poll  and 
estate. 

The  gallery  floor  was  laid  and  the  meeting-house  nearly  com- 
pleted in  the  autumn  of  1792,  six  years  from  the  time  the  plan 
for  building  it  was  first  projected.  It  was  framed  by  Samuel 
Tibbetts,  the  outside  finished  by  Reuben  Libbey,  and  the  inside 
by  Jesse  and  Eliphalet  Merrill  and  others.  It  cost,  chieflv  in 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  263 

labor,  material,  and  produce,  probably  more  than  twelve  hundred 
dollars. 

The  interior  of  the  meeting-house  was  constructed  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner.  From  the  porch,  situated  on  the  south  side  of 
the  main  building,  a  wide  door  opened  into  a  broad  aisle  that 
extended  to  the  pulpit  opposite.  At  the  west  end  of  the  meeting- 
house were  double  doors  that  opened  directly  into  it.  Around 
the  walls,  except  where  were  the  entrances  and  the  pulpit,  was 
a  row  of  pews  raised  eight  inches  from  the  floor.  Inside  these 
was  an  aisle  three  and  a  half  feet  wide,  which  separated  the  wall- 
pews  from  the  pit-pews  on  the  other  side.  The  latter  were  raised 
four  inches  from  the  floor.  With  two  exceptions  (for  these  a  de- 
duction in  price  was  made)  each  wall-pew  had  the  whole  or  part  of 
a  window  within  its  limits.  The  pews  were  square  with  seats  on 
three  sides.  They  were  finished  with  top-rails  and  short  balusters, 
and  closed  with  doors.  The  pulpit,  over  which  a  canopy  was  sus- 
pended, had  an  elevation  of  eight  feet  from  the  ground  floor,  and 
was  ascended  by  a  banistered  stairway.  In  front  of  it  was  the 
deacon's  seat. 

A  stairway  led  from  the  porch  to  the  galleries.  On  the  outer 
side  of  these,  next  to  the  walls  of  the  house,  were  placed  twenty- 
four  pews.  On  the  incline  from  these  to  the  inner  edge  of  the 
galleries  were  seats — free,  except  those  directly  in  front  of  the 
pulpit,  which  were  intended  for  the  orchestra.  The  walls  of 
the  house  were  plastered  and  whitewashed.  No  arrangements 
were  made  for  heating. 

No  further  work  was  done  in  the  meeting-house  until  1802, 
when  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  were  expended  under  the 
supervision  of  Selectman  Richard  Rust.  He  purchased  ten 
thousand  feet  of  lumber  for  fifty-one  dollars,  twenty  thousand 
nails  for  twenty-seven  dollars,  paid  Deering  Stoddard  for  wages 
and  board  for  thirty-nine  days  forty  dollars,  John  Lucas,  Jr.  for 
twenty-eight  days  work  twenty-three  dollars,  for  rum  three 
dollars,  and  for  incidentals  one  dollar,  reserving  for  the  superin- 


264 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


tending  of  the  job  five  dollars.  This  did  not  entirely  finish  the 
meeting-house,  but  the  town  declined  to  furnish  any  more  money 
for  the  purpose.  It  was  probably  never  completely  finished  or 
formally  dedicated,  although  from  the  time  of  Mr.  Allen's  ordi- 
nation occupied  many  years  for  religious  worship.  In  1819  Paul 
H.  Varney  repaired  it  at  a  cost  of  about  eighty  dollars.  Some 
absolutely  unavoidable  repairs  were  made  from  time  to  time 
until  1840,  when  it  was  reduced  in  height,  its  pulpit  and  pews 
taken  out,  and  the  building  removed  to  another  part  of  the 
lot  and  converted  into  a  town-house. 

When  the  meeting-house  was  first  built,  the  ten  acre  lot  on 
which  it  was  set  adjoined  the  highway  that  ran  near  the  shore 
of  Lake  Wentworth.  Afterwards  a  road  was  opened  from  Center 
Wolfeborough,  which  divided  the  lot  into  two  parts,  about  three- 
fourths  of  it  falling  on  the  south  side  of  the  new  highway.  This 
portion  was  subsequently  sold  by  the  town.  On  that  part  of 
the  lot  remaining  on  the  north  side  of  the  road,  the  town-house 
was  set.  In  1875  it  was  repaired  somewhat,  and  used  for  town 
meetings  until  1890,  when,  the  Brewster  Memorial  Hall  having 
been  erected,  the  people  of  Wolfeborough  bade  a  final  farewell 
to  the  old  town-house  where  many  a  fierce  political  battle  had 
been  fought  and  many  an  aged  citizen  fallen  a  victim  to  the  in- 
clemencies of  March.  In  1890  it  was  sold  for  sixty-two  and  a 
half  dollars  to  Greenlief  B.  Clark,  who  removed  the  material,  and 
of  it  constructed  a  stable,  which  stands  in  the  rear  of  the  shoe- 
factories,  and  is  used  as  a  shelter  for  the  teams  of  the  operatives. 

In  1806  the  town  voted  that  one  acre  of  the  lot  for  "public 
uses"  be  set  apart  for  a  burying-ground,  and  in  this  are  interred 
the  remains  of  the  town  minister  and  his  wife  and  those  of 
probably  one  or  two  scores  of  other  persons.  It  is  still  fenced, 
but  seldom  used  for  interment.  On  the  remaining  acre  is  a 
grove  of  thrifty  pines. 

Soon  after  the  meeting-house  was  built,  it  was  greatly  en- 
dangered by  a  brush  fire  that  caught  near  it.  The  town  voted 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUQH.  26$ 

a  reward  to  the  person  who  discovered  and  watched  the  fire, 
and  at  once  took  measures  to  have  the  grounds  freed  from  rub- 
bish and  brush,  paying  extra  wages  for  the  work.  In  1811  and 
again  in  1827  the  house  was  struck  by  lightning. 

At  the  time  of  locating  the  meeting-house  lot  the  town  was 
sparsely  occupied  by  farmers,  and  there  was  little  to  indicate 
the  centers  of  the  subsequently  more  populous  districts.  As  the 
house  was  intended  for  the  accommodation  of  the  whole  town, 
a  central  location  was  selected,  which,  so  long  as  farming  re- 
mained the  almost  sole  occupation  of  the  inhabitants,  was  quite 
satisfactory.  When,  however,  other  kinds  of  business  were  in- 
troduced, hamlets  and  villages  sprang  up,  and  in  these,  churches 
built,  so  that  the  town  meeting-house  was  gradually  abandoned 
as  a  general  resort  for  worshippers. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  EARLY  MINISTRY — NEW  ENGLAND  CUSTOM — ANDREW  COL- 
LINS— JOHN  ALLEN — BENJAMIN  RANDALL — ISAAC  TOWN- 
SEND — EBENEZER  ALLEN — His  CALL  TO  BE  TOWN  MINIS- 
TER— His  REPLY — CONTROVERSY — PROTEST  AGAINST  THE 
ORDINATION  OF  TOWNSEND — PROTEST  AGAINST  THE  ORDI- 
NATION OF  ALLEN — ORDINATION  OF  TOWNSEND — ORDINA- 
TION OF  ALLEN — THE  SERMON — THE  CHARGE — THE 
RIGHT-HAND  OF  FELLOWSHIP — THE  ENTERTAINMENT — A 

SOMEWHAT    SPIRITUOUS    AS    WELL    AS    SPIRITUAL    GATHER- 
ING. 

ONE  of  the  matters  which  early  claimed  the  attention  of  the 
settlers  in  New  England  territory  was  the  preaching;  of  the 
Gospel.  Sometimes  the  minister  accompanied  the  first  settlers ; 
he  at  least,  if  circumstances  were  favorable,  followed  in  a  few 
years.  The  difficulties  met  in  securing  settlers  for  Wolfeborough 
and  the  paucity  of  their  number  at  first  prevented  any  attempts 
at  settling  a  minister  or  of  making  any  provision  for  preaching. 

Episcopal  clergymen  perhaps  sometimes  visited  Governor 
Wentworth's  Farm,  and  there  held  religious  services  before  1774, 
but  the  first  action  of  the  town  on  record  touching  the  matter 
of  providing  preaching  was  taken  August  25,  1774,  when  it  was 
voted  to  raise  six  pounds,  six  shillings  to  hire  a  minister  for  six 
weeks,  at  twenty-one  shillings  a  week.  There  is  no  evidence, 
however,  that  the  vote  became  effective. 

At  the  annual  town-meeting  held  March  20,  1775,  the  town 
voted  to  raise  fifteen  pounds  to  "hire  preaching,"  but  on  account 
of  the  unsettled  condition  of  the  country  no  results  followed  this 
vote.  Four  years  after,  at  the  annual  meeting,  Ebenezer  Meder, 

Lieut.  Jonathan   Lary,   and   Matthew  S.   Parker  were   chosen  a 
266 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  267 

committee  ''to  hire  a  minister  to  preach  four  months  the  ensuing 
summer  on  as  reasonable  terms  as  they  can,"  a  condition  being 
"that  he  preach  one-third  part  of  the  time  on  the  northeast  side 
of  Smith's  Pond."  It  is  not  probable  that  the  committee  ac- 
complished anything,  as  the  war  was  then  in  full  blast. 

In  the  spring  of  1781  Andrew  Collins  came  to  the  town,  and 
made  an  engagement  with  the  selectmen  to  preach  and  keep 
school.  The  terms  were  as  follows :  Collins  was  to  preach  the 
Gospel  and  keep  school  where  the  selectmen  should  direct,  pro- 
vided the  place  be  "accommodated  and  convenient,"  for  one 
year  from  that  date  (May  17,  1781),  if  not  sooner  dismissed; 
the  selectmen  were  to  board  and  lodge  Collins,  and  pay  him 
eight  dollars  per  month.  The  fitting  of  a  room  for  a  school  and 
religious  meetings  was  not  very  expensive,  as  will  be  shown  by 
the  following  letter : — 

To  the  Honorable  Gentlemen,  the  Selectmen  of  the  town  of 
Wolfborough,  chosen  for  accommodating  necessary  con- 
veniences for  said  town  in  A.  D.  1781  : — 

Before  you,  the  said  Selectmen,  is  herein  laid  the  accompt  for 
providing  the  necessary  articles  for  the  accommodating  of  a 
school  in  said  town,  by  John  Lucas,  viz: 

To  119  feet  of  boards  $  .45 

To  making  a  Preaching  Desk  .55 

To   making  one   Writing  Table  .82 

To  four  benches  .55 

To  one  Water  Bucket  .25 

To  one  hundred  nails  .40 

$3.02 

Gentlemen,  the  above-mentioned  school  accommodations  are 
all  provided  according  to  your  order  given,  and  the  humble  re- 
quest of  your  affectionate  well-wisher, 

Andrew  Collins,  S.  M., 
Under  the  direction  of  the  Selectmen. 
Wolfborough,  May  22,  1781." 


268  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Here  is  Mr.   Collins  bill: — 

"The  Selectmen  of  the  town  of  Wolfborough 

to  Andrew  Collins  Dr. 

To  Preaching  and  Keeping  School  from  May  I7th 

1781   to  August  7th   1781 — two  and  2-3  months  at 

eight  dollars  per  month  £6:  4:  o 

To  12  weeks  board  at  Mr.  Meder's  at  one  dollar  per 

week  3:12:  4 


£9:16:  4 

At  the  close  of  Mr.  Collins'  engagement  he  immediately  made 
a  contract  with  the  selectmen  "to  keep  school  until  the  I7th 
day  of  May  next,  teaching  reading,  writing,  and  arithmetick,  at 
six  silver  dollars  per  month."  It  seems,  however,  that  matters 
did  not  run  smoothly,  as  in  November  following,  a  town-meet- 
ing was  held  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  if  the  people  wished 
to  retain  the  services  of  Mr.  Collins.  At  a  first  meeting  they 
voted  seventeen  to  thirteen,  and  at  a  second  meeting  twelve  to 
nine  to  hire  him,  but  it  is  evident  that  he  soon  left  the  town. 

A  special  tax  of  seventeen  pounds  had  been  assessed  on  the 
inhabitants  of  the  southwest  portion  of  the  town,  the  locality  to 
which  Mr.  Collins  had  confined  his  labors.  In  the  spring  of 
1782  the  people  voted  to  withdraw  this  list  and  substitute  an- 
other of  less  amount,  since  so  large  a  sum  as  that  assessed  was 
not  necessary  on  account  of  his  having  left  town.  In  the  tax- 
list,  against  the  name  of  Moses  Varney,  a  Quaker,  was  written 
"for  schooling  only,"  signifying  that  he  did  not  purpose  to  com- 
mit himself  to  a  compulsory  method  of  supporting  preachers. 

For  several  years  following  1781  the  town  took  no  action  in 
regard  to  supplying  preaching,  but  at  the  annual  meeting  of 
1786  Cols.  Henry  Rust  and  William  Cotton  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  ascertain  what  the  town  proprietors  would  donate 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  269 

towards  building  a  meeting-house  and  settling  a  minister,  two 
matters  very  intimately  connected. 

From  a  letter  written  to  the  selectmen  of  Wolfeborough  by 
John  Allen,  of  Stratham,  dated  Jan.  28,  1792,  it  appears  that 
his  father,  Rev.  John  Allen,  visited  Wolfeborough  about  1783, 
and  preached  some.  He  attempted  to  visit  the  town  again  in 
March,  1784,  for  the  purpose  of  making  some  arrangements  in 
relation  to  a  settlement,  but,  setting  out  from  Pittsfield,  found 
the  roads  in  Gilmanton  so  blocked  with  snow  that  he  gave  up 
the  journey  to  Wolfeborough,  and  visited  Canterbury.  He  died 
previous  to  the  date  of  his  son's  letter.  Rev.  Joshua  Cushman, 
of  Dover,  preached  in  Wolfeborough  four  Sabbaths  in  the 
autumn  of  1791,  being  hired  by  the  selectmen. 

About  1780  Benjamin  Randall,  a  native  of  Newcastle,  N.  H., 
who  had  removed  to  New  Durham,  organized  a  church  there, 
one  of  the  tenets  of  which  was  that  the  people  should  not  be 
taxed  for  the  support  of  the  ministry,  but  that  it  should  be  sus- 
tained by  voluntary  contributions.  Isaac  Townsend,  one  of  Ran- 
dall's adherents,  removed  to  Wolfeborough  in  the  spring  of 
1791.  He  had  preached  some  while  residing  in  New  Durham, 
and  after  his  arrival  in  Wolfeborough  continued  the  practice, 
holding  meetings  in  private  dwellings.  Some  of  the  citizens 
of  Wolfeborough  had  previously  adopted  some  of  Randall's  re- 
ligious views,  and  consequently  affiliated  with  Townsend,  thus 
maintaining  Sabbath  worship  and  other  devotional  meetings  in 
a  humble  way.  Between  1780  and  1790  several  Quaker  families 
had  moved  into  Wolfeborough,  among  them  the  Varneys  the 
Bassetts,  and  the  Nowells,  men  of  some  means  and  good  business 
capacity.  They,  too,  were  opposed  to  compulsory  methods  of 
supporting  ministers. 

The  time  had  now  come  when  the  larger  portion  of  the  more 
influential  citizens  of  Wolfeborough  deemed  it  proper  to  adopt 
measures  for  settling  a  town  minister,  whose  support  should  be 
legally  assured  as  had  been  generally  the  custom  in  New  Eng- 


270 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


land,  by  an  assessment  of  taxes  on  the  inhabitants.  In  defence  of 
this  practice  it  was  urged  that  while  the  magistrate  was  justly 
supported  by  the  people,  as  they  had  the  benefit  of  his  services, 
so  the  minister,  the  more  self-sacrificing  of  the  two,  was  entitled 
to  his  living  from  the  same  source,  and  as  all  the  inhabitants  were 
benefited  by  his  ministrations,  all  should  be  required  to  aid  in 
sustaining  him. 

Mr.  Ebenezer  Allen  preached  in  Wolfeborough  during  the 
summer  of  1/92,  and  a  town-meeting  was  called  by  the  selectmen, 
to  be  held  on  the  twenty-second  day  of  August,  "to  see  if  the 
town  will  agree  to  give  Mr.  Ebenezer  Allen  a  call  to  settle  as 
a  minister  of  the  Gospel  in  the  town,  and  if  there  should  be  an 
agreement  concluded,  to  adopt  such  measures  as  shall  be  neces- 
sary." 

At  the  meeting  it  was  voted  to  give  Mr.  Allen  a  call,  and  a 
committee  of  invitation  was  appointed,  consisting  of  Colonel 
Henry  Rust,  Joshua  Haines,  James  Connor,  Colonel  William 
Cotton,  Andrew  Wiggin,  Joseph  Edmonds,  Samuel  .Tibbetts, 
Jonathan  Hersey,  Daniel  Brewster,  Ebenezer  Meder,  Captain 
Reuben  Libbey,  Isaiah  Home,  Jacob  Haines,  Lieutenant  John 
Martin,  Ithiel  Clifford,  Joseph  Keniston,  Lieutenant  Andrew 
Lucas,  Perry  Hardy,  Samuel  Tibbetts,  Jr.,  Richard  Rust,  Esq., 
Jacob  Smith,  John  Fullerton  Stephen  Home,  Henry  Rust,  Jr., 
James  Fullerton,  James  Lucas,  Jr.,  Josiah  Thurston,  David 
Piper,  James  Marden,  Jason  Chamberlain,  Paul  Wiggin,  Jesse 
Merrill,  Aaron  Frost,  Nathaniel  Brown,  William  Triggs,  Isaac 
Goldsmith,  Benjamin  Home,  George  Yeaton,  Levi  Tibbetts,  and 
Benjamin  Wiggin,  embracing  probably  all  the  freeholders  in 
the  town  favorable  to  the  movement. 

Colonel  Henry  Rust  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  committee, 
which  was  to  ascertain  on  what  terms  Mr.  Allen  could  be  en- 
gaged, and  report  at  an  adjourned  meeting  to  be  held  on  the 
3Oth  instant.  At  the  adjourned  meeting,  the  committee  reported 
through  its  chairman  that  it  had  unanimously  agreed  to  give  Mr. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  2/I 

Allen  a  call  and  an  annual  salary  of  forty-five  pounds — one- 
third  of  which  should  be  cash,  one-third  grass-fed  beef  at  twenty 
shillings  a  hundred,  and  one-third  corn  at  three  shillings  or  rye 
at  four  shillings  a  bushel  or  cash,  as  the  payee  might  prefer.  This 
salary  was  to  increase  as  the  ratable  estate  of  the  town  should 
increase  until  it  amounted  to  sixty  pounds,  and  thenceforth  re- 
main stationary. 

Mr.  Allen  was  also  to  have  twenty-five  cords  of  wood  delivered 
annually  at  his  place  of  residence,  and  thirty  pounds  expended 
on  his  buildings,  to  be  paid  in  such  articles  as  should  be  neces- 
sary for  their  completion.  A  vacation  of  five  Sabbaths  a  year 
was  to  be  allowed  him  during  the  first  three  years  of  his  ministry, 
and  afterwards  one  of  four  Sabbaths  annually. 

It  was  voted  to  accept  the  foregoing  report,  and  Colonel  Henry 
Rust,  Joshua  Haines,  and  Andrew  Wiggin  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  convey  to  Mr.  Allen  this  report  and  receive  his 
answer.  It  was  also  voted  to  exempt  his  estate  from  taxation 
during  his  ministry,  should  he  accept  the  proffered  call.  The 
meeting  was  then  adjourned  to  the  twentieth  day  of  September, 
when  the  committee  was  to  report  Mr.  Allen's  reply.  At  the 
adjournment  it  was  presented  and  read. 

"To  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Wolf- 
borough,  convened  in  Town  Meeting  this  2Oth  Day  of  Sep- 
tember, A.  D.  1792: — 

Men,  Brethren,  §  Fathers :  The  Call  or  Invitation  which  you 
have  given  me  to  settle  as  a  Minister  of  the  Gospel  in  this  Town 
of  Wolfborough  has  engaged  my  serious  Attention.  Wishing  to 
act  agreeably  to  the  Pleasure  of  that  God  whom  I  serve  in  the 
Gospel  of  his  Son,  &  considering  the  Unanimity  which  you  have 
exhibited  in  your  Proceedings,  together  with  other  Circum- 
stances, as  affording  a  striking  presumption  what  that  Pleasure 
is  in  the  Case  now  depending,  I  comply  with  your  Request.  To 
be  your  Minister,  and  preach  to  you  the  unsearchable  Riches  of 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Christ  according  to  the  Measure  of  Grace  &  Ability  given,  I 
consent  &  agree.  Great,  arduous,  important  is  the  Work!  How 
important  to  you  and  your  Children !  How  important  to  me ! 
How  important  to  that  spiritual  Kingdom  which  consists  in 
Righteousness,  Peace,  &  Joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost!  Who  is  suf- 
ficient for  these  Things!  But,  says  the  Redeemer,  'Lo!  I  am 
with  you  always,  even  unto  the  End  of  the  World.' 

Permit  to  expect,  for  I  shall  certainly  need,  your  Love,  your 
Kindness,  your  Prayers. 

Ebenezer  Allen." 

This  answer  was  acceptable  to  the  meeting,  which  voted  that 
Thursday,  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  October,  be  appointed  for  the 
ordination  of  Mr.  Allen,  and  Henry  Rust,  Jr.,  Richard  Rust, 
Reuben  Libbey,  and  Stephen  W.  Home  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  extend  invitations  to  ministers  and  churches  to  attend 
the  ordination  services  and  to  provide  necessary  entertainment 
for  their  reception  at  the  expense  of  the  town.  It  was  also  voted 
that  Jonathan  Allen,  of  Bradford,  Jonathan  French,  of  Andover, 
Mr.  McKean,  of  Beverly,  John  Shaw,  of  Haverhill,  Mr.  Rowland, 
of  Exeter,  Mr.  Thayer,  of  Kingston,  Mr.  Merrill,  of  Plaistow, 
Samuel  Haven,  of  Portsmouth,  James  Miltemore,  of  Stratham, 
Mr.  Gray,  of  Dover,  Mr.  Haven,  of  Rochester,  Mr.  Piper,  of 
Wakefield,  Mr.  Shaw,  of  Moultonborough,  Mr.  Smith,  of  Gil- 
manton,  Mr.  McClintock,  of  Greenland,  Mr.  Hidden,  of  Tarn- 
worth,  and  Mr.  Porter,  of  Conway,  be  invited,  with  their 
churches,  to  act  in  council  at  the  ordination. 

At  a  town-meeting  held  October  16,  1792,  this  action  was 
taken : 

"Whereas,  we,  the  freeholders  and  others,  inhabitants  of  this 
town  of  Wolfborough,  did,  in  the  month  of  August  last,  give  Mr. 
Ebenezer  Allen  a  call  or  invitation  to  settle  as  a  minister  of  the 
gospel  in  the  said  town,  and  whereas,  by  his  answer  in  writing  of 
the  twentieth  of  September  last,  he  fully  complied  with  the  said 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


273 


call  or  invitation,  plainly  expressing  his  consent  and  agreement 
to  be  our  minister ;  and  whereas,  being  then  convened  in  town- 
meeting,  we  voted  to  accept  his  answer ;  we  do  therefore  now  re- 
solve, declare,  and  vote : 

First,  That  the  said  Ebenezer  Allen,  upon  giving  his  answer 
aforesaid,  on  the  said  twentieth  of  September,  and  his  answer 
being  accepted  immediately,  became  the  first  minister  of  the 
gospel  of  this  town  of  Wolfborough.  Such  we  then  considered 
him :  such  we  now  declare  him. 

Secondly,  That  although  he  was  not  at  that  time  ordained,  yet 
the  civil  contract  between  him  and  the  people  being  completed, 
he.  the  said  Ebenezer  Allen,  was  settled,  at  least  so  far  as  respects 
things  of  a  civil  nature  ;  and  therefore  immediately  had  a  good 
and  sufficient  title  to  the  right  or  lot  of  land  which  was  given  or 
reserved  for  the  use  of  the  first  minister  of  the  gospel  who  should 
settle  in  said  town. 

Thirdly,  That  the  said  Ebenezer  Allen  shall  have  for  himself, 
his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  the  said  right  or  lot  of  land,  being 
number  eighteen,  in  what  is  called  the  Lords',  or  Masonian  Pro- 
prietors', quarter  of  this  town  of  Wolfborough,  and  consisting 
of  about  three  hundred  and  fifty-four  acres. 

Voted,  Secondly,  —  Whereas  it  is  suspected  that  Mr.  Isaac 
Fownsend  designs  to  be  ordained  in  some  part  of  this  town  of 
Wolfborough  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  before  the  ordination  of 
Air.  Ebenezer  Allen,  which  is  appointed  to  be  on  Thursday,  the 
twenty-fifth  day  of  the  present  October ;  and  whereas,  he  may 
entertain  some  faint  hope  that  he  shall  thereby  be  entitled  to  the 
whole  or  a  part  of  the  right  or  lot  of  land  which  was  given  for 
the  use  of  the  first  minister  of  the  gospel  who  should  settle  in 
the  town ; — we,  therefore,  the  freeholders  and  other  inhabitants 
of  this  town  of  Wolfborough  (to  prevent  difficulty),  do  hereby 
declare — ist,  that  we  have  not  invited  or  agreed  with  the  said 
Isaac  Townsend  to  settle  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel  in  this  town  ; 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

secondly,  that  we  utterly  disown  him  as  our  minister ;  and  thirdly, 
that  we  hereby  forbid  him  to  be  ordained  in  any  part  of  the  said 
town  of  Wolfborough,  with  any  view,  design,  or  intention  of 
being  considered  or  acknowledged  as  a  minister  of  the  town." 

It  was  also  voted  that  Mr.  Allen's  salary  commence  from  the 
time  that  he  consented  to  be  the  minister  of  the  town,  and  that 
the  constable  serve  a  notice  of  the  second  vote  passed  at  this 
meeting  on  Mr.  Townsend. 

A  portion  of  the  inhabitants  being  unwilling  to  accept  Mr. 
Allen  as  their  minister,  prepared  a  dissent,  which  was  presented 
to  the  selectmen  by  William  Rogers  and  William  Lucas,  and  an 
informal  town-meeting  was  held,  at  which  it  was  voted  to  enter 
the  same  on  the  town  records.  The  following  is  the  instru- 
ment : — 

We,  whose  names  are  here  underwritten,  being  inhabitants  of 
the  town  of  Wolfborough,  declare  that  we  have  considered  our- 
selves of  the  Baptist  persuasion,  and  have  constantly  attended 
to  and  had  a  Baptist  preacher  for  the  space  of  seventeen  months 
past,  and  do  now  look  upon  ourselves  as  a  Baptist  society  :  and 
understanding  that  Mr.  Ebenezer  Allen  is  to  be  ordained  as  a 
minister  of  the  town  of  Wolfeborough.we  hereby  enter  our  dissent 
against  him  as  our  minister ;  and  declare  that  we  have  never 
called  nor  desired  him,  neither  will  we  have  any  concern  in  or- 
daining and  settling  him,  the  said  Mr.  Allen,  as  our  minister,  but 
do  make  choice  of  and  have  called  Mr.  Isaac  Townsend  as  our 
minister,  and  are  determined,  as  the  happy  government  we  set 
under  allows  us  liberty  of  conscience,  according  to  a  previous 
appointment  from  the  fourth  of  September,  to  ordain  him  as 
minister  the  twenty-fifth  of  this  instant  October. 

Isaac  Townsend.  Josiah   Evans. 

William  Lucas.  William  Rust. 

Thomas  Chase.  John  Furbur. 

Israel  Piper.  Thomas  Cotton. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  275 

William    Rogers.  John  Warren. 

Henry  Allard.  John  Edmonds. 

John  Snell.  Jesse  Whitten. 

Wolfborough,  October  19,  1792." 

There  were  other  citizens  of  Wolfeborough,  especially  among 
the  Quakers,  who  were  opposed  to  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Allen 
as  the  town  minister.  It  is  not,  however,  to  be  inferred  from 
the  strong  terms  used  in  the  forgoing  manifestoes  that  there 
were  any  persons  in  town  really  hostile  to  Mr.  Allen  or  Mr.  Town- 
send.  The  issue  was  as  to  the  manner  of  supporting  the  town 
minister,— the  one  party  claiming  that  the  benefited  should  reward 
the  benefactor,  even  though  it  should  require  the  compulsion  of 
law  to  do  so,  the  other  claiming  that  a  free  Gospel  did  not  need 
enforced  contributions  to  sustain  it. 

It  so  happened  that,  according  to  previous  arrangments,  the 
same  day,  October  twenty-fifth,  had  been  fixed  upon  for  the 
ordinations  of  both  Mr.  Townsend  and  Mr.  Allen,  the  Baptists 
dating  their  notice  from  the  fourth  day  of  the  preceding  Sep- 
tember, and  the  town  from  the  twentieth  day  of  the  same  month. 

Mr.  Townsend  was  ordained  in  his  own  dwelling-house  in  the 
early  part  of  the  day  appointed.  The  ordaining  council  con- 
sisted of  Elders  Benjamin  Randall,  Samuel  Weeks,  Joseph 
Boodey,  and  John  Whitney,  Elder  Weeks  being  chosen  modera- 
tor, and  Elder  Randall,  clerk  of  the  council.  The  sermon  was 
preached  by  Elder  Weeks  from  the  third,  fourth,  and  seventh 
verses  of  the  sixth  chapter  of  II.  Corinthians,  "Giving  no  offence 
in  any  thing,  that  the  ministry  be  not  blamed :  But  in  all  things 
approving  ourselves  as  the  ministers  of  God,  in  much  patience, 
in  afflictions,  in  necessities,  in  distresses,  By  the  word  of  truth, 
by  the  power  of  God,  by  the  armour  of  righteousness  on  the 
right  hand  and  on  the  left."  Elder  Boodey  offered  the  ordaining, 
and  Elder  Whitney,  the  concluding  prayer.  The  charge  was 


276 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


given  by   Elder  Randall,  and  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  by 
Elder  Boodey. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  Mr.  Allen  was  ordained  at 
the  meeting-house  as  the  town  minister.  To  Wolfeborough  this 
was  the  great  event  of  the  period,  almost  the  entire  population  of 
the  town  being  present,  also  many  from  adjacent  towns.  The 
officiating  clergymen  were  Rev.  Mr.  Allen  of  Bradford,  Rev. 
Mr.  Whittemore,  of  Stratham,  Rev.  Mr.  Shaw,  of  Moulton- 
borough,  Rev.  Mr.  Piper,  of  Wakefield,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Gray,  of 
Dover.  The  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Mr.  Allen,  the 
charge  delivered  by  Rev.  Mr.  Shaw,  and  the  right  hand  of  fellow- 
ship given  by  Rev.  Mr.  Piper.  Here  follow  copies  of  these  pro- 
ductions : — 

lid  COR.  Vth  Chap,  part  of  the  XXth  Verse. 
Now  then  we  are  ambassadors  for  Christ. 

God  hath  been  pleased  to  display  his  goodness  to  men,  in  many  re- 
markable ways,  from  the  beginning  of  the  world.  But  in  nothing  does 
the  divine  benevolence  appear  with  equal  lustre,  as  in  those  beams  of 
light  and  truth  exhibited  to  men  through  the  great  Redeemer.  The  reve- 
lation of  this  to  mankind  has  ever  been  the  work  of  God's  faithful  ser- 
vants. And  the  success  they  have  had  in  their  labors  is  esteemed  by 
many  an  ample  "recompense  of  reward." 

In  the  infancy  of  time,  when  the  light  of  divine  truth  began  to 
dawn  upon  the  world,  it  was  clouded  in,  by  many  obscure  representa- 
tions, which  were  only  figures  of  things  to  come.  The  most  enlightened, 
therefore,  of  those  days,  could  see  no  better  than  "through  a  glass  dark- 
ly."— But  the  clouds  and  shadows  have  since  fled  away,  and  the  truths 
of  divine  revelation  now  shine  with  a  radiant  lustre — a  lustre  enough, 
when  beheld  by  faith,  to  charm  and  captivate  every  heart.  In  such  an 
inviting  form  the  Gospel  of  Christ  comes  handed  down,  through  various 
ages  and  preceding  generations  to  us.  Our  ears  are  now  saluted  with 
the  glad  tidings  of  peace  on  earth,  and  good  will  towards  men. 

That  mankind  might  become  acquainted  with  the  good  news  of  sal- 
vation by  a  Redeemer,  many  messengers  have  been,  and  are  still  em- 
ployed as  ambassadors  from  heaven.  God  hath  been  pleased  to  send  his 
angels  upon  this  interesting  message.  "They  are  all  ministring  spirits, 
sent  forth  to  minister  for  them  who  shall  be  heirs  of  salvation."  And 
they  first  congratulated  the  world  with  the  news  of  a  Saviour,  and  pro- 
claimed the  joyful  tidings  of  peace  and  reconciliation  with  God. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  277 

But  a  message  delrvered  by  those  exalted  beings  above,  is  not  always 
adapted  to  influence  and  persuade  mankind  the  best.  The  superiority 
of  their  nature  and  rank  in  the  scale  of  being  forbids  their  free  and  fa- 
miliar intercourse  with  men.  Those  therefore  of  our  own  species  are 
much  better  adapted  to  the  employment  of  ambassadors  from  heaven 
than  even  the  angels  themselves.  And  the  probability  is,  that  they  will 
be  much  more  successful,  in  persuading  men  to  be  reconciled  to  God. 
The  divine  grace  is  likewise  much  more  visible,  in  the  successful  influ- 
ence of  the  word  of  truth,  than  if  the  interesting  business  had  been  as- 
signed to  them.  "We  have  this  treasure  therefore  in  earthen  vessels, 
(saith  the  Apostle)  that  the  excellency  of  the  power  may  be  of  God,  and 
not  of  us."  And  he  likewise  says,  "all  things  are  of  God,  who  hath  recon- 
ciled us  to  himself  by  Jesus  Christ,  and  hath  committed  to  us  the  word 
of  reconciliation."  And  immediately  upon  this,  he  concludes,  as  in  the 
worus  of  our  text  and  says,  "Now  then  we  are  ambassadors  for  Christ." 
The  Ministers  of  Christ  being  engaged  in  the  same  employment  with 
his  apostles  of  old,  have  an  equal  right  to  stile  themselves  his  ambassadors 
that  they  had.  It  will  not  be  suspected  therefore,  that  we  give  them  too  high 
a  title  to  call  them  his  ambassadors.  Those  of  us  then,  who  are  regu- 
larly introduced  into  the  sacred  office,  may  without  any  appearance  of 
arrogance,  adopt  the  stile  of  the  apostle  and  say,  "Now  then  we  are  am- 
bassadors for  Christ." 

That  we  may  profitably  improve  and  apply  these  words,  upon  the 
present  solemnity,  we  shall  consider  what  we  are  to  understand  by  an 
ambassador  of  Christ;  from  whence  he  receives  his  commission;  the  dis- 
position and  knowledge  requisite;  the  extensiveness  of  his  office;  and 
how  he  and  his  embassy  are  to  be  received  by  mankind. 

1st,  We  are  to  consider  what  we  are  to  understand  by  an  ambassador 
of  Christ. 

The  word  ambassador  is  most  commonly  used  to  denominate  a  mes- 
senger sent  from  one  kingdom  or  nation  to  another,  to  negotiate  and 
transact  public  business.  An  ambassador  of  Christ  is  a  person  intrusted 
with  his  gospel,  and  sent  forth  to  preach  and  dispense  it  to  mankind. 
The  design  of  his  commission  is  to  bring  men  to  be  reconciled  to  God. 
He  is  employed  in  this  business. — The  honor  is  indeed  great!  It  denotes 
a  very  high  and  important  trust!  But,  important  as  it  is,  the  Great  Je- 
hovah has  thought  best  to  commit  it  to  men.  To  men  who  are  regularly 
appointed  for  that  purpose.  All  such  are  commissioned  according  to  his 
direction,  and  are  his  ambassadors  to  transact  his  business  here  on  earth, 
and  they  are  to  treat  with  the  rest  of  mankind,  and  persuade  them  to  be 
reconciled  to  God. 

In  order  to  illustrate  this,  we  proceed  to  shew 

lid,  From  whence  he  receives  his  commission.  This  he  receives 
from  Christ.  It  is  conferred  on  him  by  the  solemn  rite  of  ordination. 
He  is  thus  separated,  set  apart,  and  consecrated  to  the  important  work. 


278 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


It  hath  pleased  God,  in  some  mode  or  other  to  appoint  certain  men, 
to  be  his  messengers  to  the  rest  of  their  species,  in  every  age  from  the 
beginning  of  the  world.  In  ancient  times,  Moses  and  the  Prophets  were 
employed  in  this  great  embassy.  They  were  animated  and  commissioned 
thereto  by  inspiration,  and  a  divine  impulse  immediately  from  heaven. 
They  were  sent  by  a  positive  command  from  God,  and  charged  with  his 
messages  to  men,  and  they  always  spoke  and  delivered  the  truth  as  they 
were  moved  by  inspiration. 

After  the  Prophets,  the  Son  of  God  himself  was  sent  from  heaven, 
to  establish  a  covenant  of  peace  between  God  and  his  rebellious  people, 
— and  he  came  with  the  olive  branch  of  peace,  and  authority  in  every 
respect,  to  transact  the  affairs  of  his  kingdom  here  on  earth,  and  before 
he  again  left  the  world,  "he  gave  some  apostles:  and  some  prophets:  and 
some,  evangelists:  and  some,  pastors  and  teachers;  for  the  perfecting 
of  the  saints,  for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  for  the  edifying  of  the  body 
of  Christ." 

Our  Lord  first  called  to  himself  his  desiples,  and  out  of  these  "he 
chose  and  ordained  twelve,  whom  also  he  named  apostles;"  and  after 
one  of  them  had  proved  an  apostate,  "his  bishoprick  let  another  take," 
said  an  inspired  apostle.  And  Matthias  was  accordingly  ordained  to 
"take  that  part  of  the  ministry,  from  which  Judas  by  transgression  fell." 
The  apostles  afterwards  likewise,  by  the  direction  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
separated  Barnabas  and  Saul,  and  ordained  them  to  the  same  divine 
employment.  "I  am  ordained,"  says  one  of  them,  "to  be  an  apostle  and 
a  teacher  of  the  gentiles."  And  they  thus  proceeded  and  "ordained  them 
elders  in  every  church."  Ordination  was  performe-  "by  prayer  and 
laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the  presbytery."  And  it  was  a  standing  or- 
der that  such  ordinations  should  be  continued,  and  men  thus  in  the  most 
solemn  manner  be  separated  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  "The  same 
commit  thou  to  faithful  men,"  says  Paul  in  his  charge  to  Timothy,  "who 
shall  be  able  to  reach  others  also."  The  institution  has  accordingly  ever 
been  practiced  by  all  their  followers.  And  there  has  been  a  succession  of 
men  thus  ordained  ever  since  the  days  of  the  apostles.  The  ordination 
of  every  regular  minister  may  thus  be  traced  from  Christ  himself,  and  no 
one  is  able  to  point  out  wherein  the  succession  has  been  interrupted. 

The  ministers  of  our  congregational  churches  have  an  equal  right  to 
the  claim  of  being  the  successors  of  the  apostles  with  the  bishops  of 
England  or  of  Rome.  And  although  ordination  be  not  performed  by 
men  who  pretend  to  any  dignity  above  their  brethren  in  office;  yet  it  is 
equally  valid  as  if  our  bishops  held  ever  so  large  a  benefice,  or  put  on 
ever  so  many  airs  of  state.  We  all  have  as  extensive  a  commission  as 
can  possibly  be  given  on  earth.  "Now  then  we  are  ambassadors  for 
Christ." — We  now  proceed 

Hid,  To  consider  the  disposition  and  knowledge  requisite  for  an 
ambassador  of  Christ.     A  man  who  is  endued  with  this  important  trust, 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

and  thus  undertakes  the  work  of  the  ministry,  ought  most  undoubtedly 
to  be  a  man  of  true  religion.  The  honor  of  his  divine  master  ought  to 
be  very  near  his  heart.  This  is  the  most  essential  qualification  for  a 
minister  of  the  gospel.  It  is  so  essential,  that  without  it,  no  one  ought 
ever  to  take  upon  him  the  sacred  trust. 

For  a  man  to  be  bound  to  preach  the  gospel,  the  doctrines  of  which 
he  does  not  believe,  and  "to  be  tied  to  an  employment,  while  he  has  not 
an  inward  conformity  to  it  (says  an  excellent  author)  is  both  unbecom- 
ing, and  the  most  unpleasant  and  uncomfortable  state  of  life  conceiv- 
able." When  he  undertakes  to  instruct  others  in  religion,  he  offers  that 
as  a  light  to  them,  which  has  never  proved  of  this  salutory  efficacy  to 
himself.  Such  a  man  is  entirely  unworthy  the  sacred  profession;  and 
will  prove  a  scandal  to  religion,  or  be  obliged  to  live  in  continual  re- 
straint or  hypocrisy,  And  the  one  is  equally  as  dangerous  to  others  as  the 
other  is  to  himself.  There  can  be  no  safety  therefore  in  his  undertaking 
to  preach  the  gospel.  He  will  not  be  faithful  in  a  cause  that  he  does  not 
view  in  its  real  importance.  He  will  not  heartily  espouse  the  character 
of  one,  for  whom  he  has  not  a  tender  regard.  And  the  man  who  does 
not  entertain  a  devout  love  to  the  great  author  of  our  religion,  and  to 
mankind,  will  not  deeply  engage  to  promote  the  glory  of  the  one,  or  the 
best  interest  and  happiness  of  the  other.  A  devout  love  to  God,  and  an 
affectionate  regard  to  the  souls  of  men,  are  the  two  cardinal  and  even 
radical  exercises  in  our  holy  religion,  and  are  absolutely  requisite  for  a 
gospel  minister.  And  it  is  equally  necessary  also  that  he  should  him- 
self believe  those  doctrines,  which,  by  his  office,  it  becomes  his  duty  to 
enjoin  upon  others.  We  cannot  therefore  insist  too  strongly  upon  the 
most  hearty  sincerity,  in  one,  who  professes  to  preach  the  gospel.  His 
heart  must  be  impressed  with  a  true  and  just  sense  of  religion.  He 
must  experience  the  divine  influences  of  it  upon  his  soul,  an1  be  trans- 
formed into  the  genius  and  spirit  of  the  gospel. 

And  it  is  not  only  requisite  that  the  ministers  of  Christ  be  men  of 
true  religion;  but  men  of  serious  and  regular  deportment  and  behaviour. 
They  must  carry  the  visible  marks  of  their  regard  to  Christ  in  their 
lives  and  conversation.  They  must  be  an  example  to  their  hearers  in 
word,  in  doctrine,  and  in  the  practise  of  every  virtue. 

The  actions  of  men,  whatever  their  profession  may  be,  always  pass 
for  the  real  index  of  their  hearts.  They  are  the  criterion  by  which  their 
true  character  is  known.  And  it  is  always  expected  that  men  of  piety; 
and  especially  those  to  whom  the  care  of  souls  is  entrusted,  should  be 
holy  and  exemplary  in  their  lives.  In  proportion  therefore,  as  they  devi- 
ate from  the  rules  of  the  gospel,  the  world  of  mankind  never  fail  to  load 
them  with  censures;  and  reproaches  are  often  heaped  upon  the  whole 
body  of  the  clergy  for  their  sakes;  and  even  religion  itself  does  not  es- 
cape the  infamy  of  it.  How  important  then  is  it  that  the  ministers  of 
Christ  should  be  visibly  as  well  as  internally  holy!  The  reputation  of 


2go  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

religion  itself,  to  say  nothing  of  their  own  character,  requires  that  they 
sacredly  conform  to  the  precepts  and  doctrines  of  Christ.  Out  of  the 
good  treasure  of  their  hearts,  therefore,  they  should  invariably  bring 
forth  that  which  is  good.  And  as  long  as  they  support  this  character, 
the  truths  of  the  gospel  dispensed  by  them,  will  appear  in  their  truly 
amiable  and  delightful  nature.  Like  the  rays  of  the  sun  reflected  upon 
the  world,  by  that  bright  orb  that  rules  the  night,  they  will  appear  with 
a  delightful  lustre;  and  those  men  themselves  are  so  far  calculated  to 
shine  as  lights  in  the  world. 

But  all  good  men  art  not,  in  every  respect,  qualified  to  preach  the 
gospel.  A  man  may  be  a  good  man,  and  yet  may  have  but  very  little 
doctrinal  acquaintance  with  the  truths  of  Christianity.  A  much  further 
acquaintance  of  those  is  necessary  for  one  who  undertakes  to  instruct 
others;  and  next  to  a  vital  principle  of  religion,  a  very  considerable  de- 
gree of  knowledge  is  requisite  for  a  gospel  preacher. 

I  do  not  say  that  a  collegiate  education  is  absolutely  necessary  for  a 
minister  of  Christ.  Nor  do  I  say  that  men  of  the  greatest  genius  only 
may  undertake  the  sacred  employment.  Men  may  obtain  a  good  degree 
of  knowledge  and  never  be  seen  in  any  university.  And  men  of  moder- 
ate abilities,  well  improved,  may  become  useful  to  society,  even  as  minis- 
ters of  the  gospel.  But  the  abilities  of  no  man,  unimproved  by  study, 
are  equal  to  the  extensive  business.  The  best  natural  genius,  unculti- 
vated by  science,  is  like  gold  in  the  mines,  rather  than  that  which  is  pu- 
rified and  refined;  and  the  talents  of  Christ's  ministers  ought  always  to 
appear  like  gold  well  refined  and  tried.  Their  natural  capacity  ought 
therefore  to  be  well  improved  and  enlarged  by  close  application  to  their 
studies.  The  more  improvement  they  make,  other  qualifications  being 
the  same,  the  better  able  are  they  to  instruct  mankind.  They  ought 
especially  to  be  well  acquainted  with  the  truths  and  doctrines  contained 
in  the  sacred  bible. 

A  man  would  make  but  a  poor  figure  as  an  ambassador  abroad,  who 
did  not  understand  the  constitution  and  laws  of  the  kingdom  to  which 
he  belongs.  And  he  is  much  less  qualified  as  an  ambassador  from  God 
to  men.  who  is  not  well  acquainted  with  the  scriptures  both  of  the  old  and 
new  testament.  These  contain  the  constitution  and  laws  by  which  he  is 
to  regulate  his  conduct;  and  the  principles  upon  which  he  is  to  treat 
with  mankind.  They  contain  the  sum  total  of  what  he  is  to  deliver  in 
his  messages  to  men.  He  may  not  exceed,  or  fall  short  of  a  just  and 
impartial  distribution  of  what  is  committed  to  him  from  those  golden 
treasures.  No  one  may  add  to,  or  diminish  from  anything  contained  in 
the  sacred  bible.  And  how  can  any  act  with  sufficient  caution  in  such  a 
momentous  affair,  unless  they  understand  the  contents  of  this  sacred 
volume?  Ignorance  in  one  who  attempts  to  preach  the  gospel,  is  of  all 
errors  the  most  inexcusable.  It  plainly  declares  his  forwardness  to  run 
before  he  is  sent. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  28l 

A  man  who  would  become  an  able  divine,  will  make  it  his  daily  busi. 
ness  to  study  the  holy  scriptures;  And  without  this,  let  his  genius  or 
moral  goodness  be  ever  so  great,  he  will  not  be  an  accomplished  instruct- 
or. He  must  study  the  scriptures  diligently,  read  them  with  attention, 
and  make  use  of  such  expositors  as  have  made  the  deepest  researches 
into  them.  He  must  likewise  improve  every  other  method  possible  to 
obtain  the  most  perfect  acquaintance  with  the  sublime  truths  contained 
therein. 

It  may  not  be  inferred  from  hence,  that  I  suppose  those  truths  that 
are  essential  to  salvation,  lie  so  deep  as  to  be  far  beyond  the  common 
view  of  men.  But  a  man  may  understand  enough  for  his  own  faith 
and  practice,  as  a  Christian,  and  not  be  able  to  instruct  others.  He  who 
undertakes  to  instruct  others  should  be  able  to  compare  one  part  of  the 
scriptures  with  another;  to  see  the  connexion  between  them;  and  to  ex- 
plain the  whole,  and  explain  all  parts  of  them,  according  to  their  original 
harmony  and  agreement;  for  the  want  of  this,  many  have  made  the 
most  awful  havock  of  the  scriptures  conceivable.  They  have  been  made 
to  speak  as  many  absurdities  and  contradictions  as  there  are  humors, 
passions  or  prejudices  in  their  ignorant,  opinionated  expositors.  A 
dreadful  idea  indeed,  that  the  sacred  oracle  should  be  thus  treated,  tor- 
tured and  torn  in  pieces!  And  that  this  should  be  done  too,  by  men  who 
profess  to  be  their  interpreters!  Too  much  care  cannot  be  taken  in  guard- 
ing against  such  errors. 

It  is  confessed  by  all.  except  such  as  are  novices  indeed,  "that  there 
are  some  things  contained  in  the  sacred  writings,  hard  to  be  understood, 
which  they  that  are  unlearned  and  unstable,  wrest,  as  they  do,  also  other 
scriptures,  to  their  own  destruction."  And  from  hence  we  see  the  need 
of  learning,  in  order  rightly  to  interpret  them;  and  the  further  men  dive 
into  the  broad  and  bottomless  ocean  of  divine  knowledge,  if  they  do  not 
go  beyond  and  bewilder  themselves,  the  better  able  they  will  be  to  in- 
struct others.  From  these  deep  researches  they  will  thus  be  able  to 
bring  forth  things  new  and  old. 

As  there  are  some  branches  of  science  which  have  a  more  favorable 
aspect  upon  the  study  of  divinity  than  others,  it  is  by  no  means  amiss 
tliat  a  minister's  mind  should  often  be  replenished  from  hence.  Such  is 
particularly  the  study  of  the  ancient  languages;  the  history  of  nations, 
both  ancient  and  modern;  the  rise  and  fall  of  the  various  empires  of  the 
world;  and  especially  treatises  upon  morality  and  religion,  natural  and 
revealed. 

The  principles  of  natural  religion  cannot  be  too  well  understood, 
nor  our  moral  obligations  too  clearly  investigated,  by  one  who  is  called 
to  dispense  the  word  of  truth.  Upon  the  broad  basis  of  the  religion  of 
nature,  revelation  itself  is  founded;  and  its  object  is  to  correct,  to  raise 
and  elevate  the  first  principles  of  our  nature,  and  temper  them  with  the 
divine. 


2g2  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUQH. 

Every  degree  of  human  knowledge  ought  to  be  so  arranged,  as  to 
lead  on  to  divine,  and  bring  us  to  be  more  familiarly  acquainted  with  the 
oracles  of  God:  And  there,  as  in  a  point,  ought  all  the  studies  of  a  min- 
ister to  converge  and  finally  centre.  Ministers  should  thus  universally 
strive,  like  Apollos,  to  be  "mighty  in  the  scriptures."  From  these  sacred 
treasures,  as  from  a  store-house,  all  their  instructions  should  be  drawn 
forth  and  adapted  to  the  particular  state,  situation,  and  circumstances 
o:'  their  people. 

And  to  apply  the  doctrines  ar.d  precepts  of  the  gospel  with  skill,  a 
minister  ought  likewise  to  be  well  acquainted  with  human  nature.  He 
should  be  able  to  look  into  mankind  and  see  them  in  every  attitude  they 
may  ever  be  placed.  He  may  then  with  exactness  learn  the  state  and 
circumstances  of  his  own  people,  see  what  part  of  advice  or  instruction 
they  need,  and  adapt  it  to  them  accordingly;  as  he  knows  their  disease, 
he  may  with  greater  hopes  of  success  point  out  the  remedy  and  he  will 
be  able  thus  to  apply  the  terrors  of  the  divine  law,  or  to  pour  in  the 
soothing  and  assuaging  oil  of  the  sacred  gospel,  as  occasion  requires; 
and  having  the  springs  of  action  in  some  measure  at  his  command,  he 
will  endeavor,  by  the  utmost  of  his  power,  to  lead  them  in  the  paths  of 
true  religion.  Such  a  guide  is  like  a  skilful  pilot  at  the  helm  in  the 
time  of  storm,  and  will  use  all  his  skill  to  anchor  them  safely  ou  Christ, 
the  only  foundation  of  all  our  hopes. — Vv'e  are  now 

IVth,  To  consider  the  extensiveness  of  a  minister's  office.  And  it  is 
indeed  very  extensive.  But  a  principal  part,  nevertheless,  is  to  preach 
the  gospel — and  to  do  this  agreeable  to  the  rules  prescribed  him,  ought  to 
engross  his  greatest  attention. 

The  injunction  given  to  the  apostles,  and  thro'  them  to  all  Christ's 
ministers  is  this:  "Go,  preach  the  gospel;"  and  they  are  to  preach  it  in 
its  genuine  purity  and  original  perfection;  not  with  wisdom  of  words, 
but  in  its  native  simplicity  and  beauty.  And  "who  is  that  faithful  and 
wise  steward  whom  the  Lord  shall  make  ruler  over  his  household  to  give 
them  their  portion  of  meat  in  due  season?"  "Who  is  sufficient  for 
these  things?"  It  is  no  disparagement  to  the  ministers  of  Christ  to  con- 
fess their  own  insufficiency  for  so  arduous  a  business;  and  did  they  not 
derive  aid  from  above  they  would  never  be  able  to  "fulfil  their  ministry." 
The  world  in  general  have  but  narrow  conceptions  of  that  charge  which 
is  laid  upon  them.  They  are  commissioned  to  negotiate  a  treaty  of 
peace  between  God  and  men.  Their  business  is  to  bring  men  to  be  rec- 
onciled to  God;  and  to  accomplish  this  great  end,  will  occupy  all  their 
talents,  let  them  be  ever  so  extensive.  And  after  all,  the  reflection  that 
they  labour  so  much  in  vain,  will  often  depress  their  spirits,  and  almost 
sink  them  in  the  dust.  It  is  nevertheless  their  duty  to  go  forward  and 
preach  Christ  and  him  crucified,  "whether  men  will  hear,  or  whether 
they  will  forbear,"  "Woe  is  unto  me  (saith  the  apostle)  if  I  preach  not 
the  pospe!:"  And  the  same  woe  will  fall  on  all  the  ministers  of  Christ, 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  283 

if  they  neglect  it;  and  they  must  preach  the  gospel  as  those  who  must 
give  an  account. 

Those  who  are  devoutly  engaged  in  the  dispensation  of  the  word, 
and  have  an  hearty  desire  for  the  souls  of  men,  will  keeep  the  people  of 
their  charge  in  view  before  them;  will  consider  what  doctrines  are  most 
essential  to  their  salvation  as  well  as  improvement  in  Christian  knowl- 
edge and  practical  godliness,  and  make  these  the  principal  object  of  their 
attention.  They  will  bring  these  often  into  view,  and  inculcate  them 
with  all  the  energy  of  a  pious  zeal  for  God  and  regard  to  the  souls  of 
men. 

The  best  of  men,  indeed,  are  not  all  united  in  their  opinion,  what 
doctrines  are  essential  to  salvation,  or  are  most  useful  to  mankind;  and 
in  this  im  per  feet  state,  it  can  hardly  be  expected,  that  all  men  should  think 
in  every  respect  exactly  alike.  But  their  disagreement  does  not  originate 
from  the  scriptures,  but  from  themselves.  A  man  therefore  conscious  of 
the  frailties  of  human  nature,  will  be  careful  how  he  imposes  his  own 
sentiments  as  an  infallible  test  for  the  belief  of  others.  But  however 
cautious  he  may  be  in  controuling  the  faith  of  others,  every  one  who 
preaches  the  gospel  ought  to  have  the  main  principles  of  religion  estab- 
lished in  his  own  mind.  He  ought  to  determine  1'or  himself  what  doc- 
trines are  most  essential  to  salvation,  and  make  them  the  basis  and 
ground  work  of  all  his  preaching.  And  as  cautious  as  I  am  of  controul- 
ing  the  faith  of  others,  I  frankly  confess,  I  believe  all  the  truths  and  doc- 
trines contained  in  the  sacred  bible,  as  far  as  understood,  essential  to 
salvation,  and  do  not  hesitate  to  impose  the  belief  of  them  upon  all  man- 
kind. 

But  nevertheless  there  are  some  doctrines  contained  in  the  bible, 
which  I  view  of  more  importance  than  others.  Such  particularly  are  a 
belief  of  the  being  and  perfections  of  God,  the  divinity  of  Jesus  Christ, 
the  original  purity  and  present  elapsed  state  of  man,  the  necessity  and 
efficacy  of  the  atonement  Christ  has  made  for  sin,  our  absolute  need  of 
repentance  towards  God  and  faith  in  the  Redeemer,  of  regeneration  and 
the  sanctification  of  our  nature,  the  certainty  of  a  resurrection  and  of  a 
future  judgment.  These  all  appear  to  me  to  be  very  impotant  doctrines, 
and  such  as  a  faithful  minister  will  not  fail  to  inculcate  upon  his  hear- 
ers. Nor  will  he  omit  the  various  duties  men  owe  to  God,  to  themselves 
and  to  the  world  around  them.  He  will  not  neglect  to  "declare"  the 
whole  "counsel  of  God;"  and  he  will  endeavor  to  do  it  with  that  energy 
and  pathos  most  likely  to  convince  sinners  of  their  errors,  to  edify  the 
people  o'J  God,  and  to  build  them  up  in  faith  and  holiness. 

But  the  whole  duty  of  a  minister  does  not  lie  in  the  pulpit,  nor  in 
preaching  the  gospel.  He  is  called  by  his  office  to  other  employments 
that  are  often  of  equal  or  greater  importance  than  this.  He  is  placed  as 
a  watchman  upon  the  walls  of  God's  Jerusalem.  And  he  is  always  to 
give  warning  when  he  sees  any  danger.  He  is  to  warn  every  one  and  be- 
seech them  in  Christ's  stead  to  be  reconciled  to  God. 


284 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


A  faithful  minister  watching  for  souls,  cannot  fail  to  improve  every 
opportunity  to  gain  access  to  them,  and  to  lead  and  direct  them  in  the 
paths  of  true  religion.  He  will  visit  his  people  therefore,  as  often  as 
he  is  able  in  health,  and  will  by  no  means  neglect  it  in  times  of  sickness 
and  affliction.  An  opportunity  then  often  presents,  to  do  those  friendly 
offices  in  conversation  and  prayer,  that  in  times  of  health  are  not  in  his 
power.  He  will  endeavor  therefore,  at  such  times,  in  an  especial  manner, 
to  become  a  worker  together  with  God  and  bring  men  to  be  reconciled 
to  him. 

The  necessity  of  those  duties,  brings  to  mind  the  almost  fatal  con- 
duct of  mankind,  in  putting  off  that  till  on  beds  of  sickness,  and  perhaps 
a  dying  hour,  which  ought  to  be  the  business  of  their  whole  lives.  How 
often  is  a  minister  called  to  visit  the  sick,  in  the  last  moments  of  their 
life,  who  have  not  given  testimony  of  their  faith  and  repentance  before! 
and  it  is  not  unlikely  but  some  in  this  critical  moment  may  be  in  a  state 
of  despair;  and  others  have  no  bands  in  their  death,  being  wholly  at  ease; 
either  of  which  must  give  a  minister  great  distress  for  them.  Counsels 
and  directions  at  such  times,  can  be  but  a  very  little  attended  to  by 
them.  The  most  that  he  can  do  is  to  pray  for  them,  and  commit  them 
into  the  hands  of  him  who  made  them,  and  resign  them  to  his  sovereign 
disposal. 

And  a  minister  of  Christ,  who  is  sensible  of  his  duty  to  his  people, 
even  in  times  of  health  will  not  cease  to  pray  for  them.  He  is  a  man 
of  prayer  and  will  employ  a  very  considerable  part  of  his  time  in  this 
duty.  He  will  devoutly  implore  the  blessing  of  God  upon  his  labours, 
upon  himself,  upon  the  people  of  his  charge,  and  upon  the  whole  world 
of  mankind;  and  he  will  not  only  pray,  but  watch.  A  pious  minister  is 
a  good  watchman.  He  will  take  heed  "therefore  to  himself,  and  to  his 
flock  over  which  the  Holy  Ghost  hath  made  him  an  overseer."  And 
"blessed  are  those  servants  whom  the  Lord,  when  he  cometh,  shall  find 
watching." — We  are  now  in  the 

Vth,  And  last  place  to  shew  how  an  ambassador  of  Christ  and  his 
embassy  are  to  be  received  by  mankind.  Ambassadors  from  the  courts 
of  earthly  princes  are  entitled,  by  the  laws  of  nations  to  many  immunities 
and  much  respect.  Their  persons  are  always  deemed  inviolable;  and 
their  property  is  not  subject  to  be  seized.  But  the  ambassadors  of  the 
Almighty  Prince  of  heaven  neither  claim,  desire,  nor  expect  any  such 
immunities  and  privileges  as  these.  They  claim  only  that  respect  and 
deference  which  is  due  to  their  office.  And  if  there  be  so  much  honor  due 
to  one  who  bears  an  embassy  from  an  earthly  prince,  there  is  some  to 
be  expected  by  such  as  are  ambassadors  from  the  King  of  heaven.  They 
are  honored  with  the  highest  commission  ever  given  to  men.  "There 
is  nothing  in  any  office,  ancient  or  modern,  I  ever  saw  (says  a  learned 
bishop)  so  exceedingly  serious  and  solemn  as  this."  It  becomes  men 
therefore,  to  treat  them  with  so  much  respect  as  the  ambassadors  of 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  285 

Christ,  as  to  "lay  aside  all  superfluity  of  naughtiness,  and  to  receive 
with  meekness  the  ingrafted  word  which  is  able  to  save  their  souls." 
It  is  their  duty  to  hearken  diligently  to  the  word  of  God  dispensed  by 
them,  to  hear  it  with  attention  and  candour,  and  with  a  mind  disposed 
to  profit  by  it.  "Every  man  should  be  swift  to  hear,  slow  to  speak,  slow 
to  wrath."  And  it  is  their  duty  to  receive  the  gospel  from  Christ's 
ministers  as  a  message  from  heaven  to  them,  and  let  it  have  a  suitable 
impression  upon  their  hearts  and  lives.  They  will  then  also  learn  to 
prize  the  ministers  of  Christ,  "and  to  esteem  them  very  highly  in  love 
for  their  works  sake." 

Such  is  not  the  spirit  and  temper  which  prevails  amongst  mankind 
at  the  present  day.  How  many  are  there  who  reject  and  dispise,  or  what 
is  worse,  openly  revile  both  the  gospel  and  its  ministers  This,  to  say 
the  least,  brings  a  dark  cloud  upon  the  age  and  nation  in  which  we  live. 
How  few  are  there  in  many  places,  who  wish  to  maintain  the  gospel! 
And  how  many  who  consider  the  standing  ministry,  be  they  ever  so 
much  engaged  to  promote  their  good,  as  an  intolerable  burden  upon 
society!  And  to  be  exempted  from  it,  they  set  up  men  as  preachers,  who 
can  scarcely  read  their  bibles.  A  dark  omen  this  upon  our  rising  re- 
public! 

But  thanks  be  to  heaven,  there  are  yet  some,  and  a  goodly  number, 
who  heartily  respect  the  ways  of  Zion :  Who  treat  the  gospel  and  its 
ministers  with  due  respect.  Let  them  be  encouraged  to  go  on,  and  by 
their  utmost  exertions,  support  the  cause  of  religion  and  the  preached 
gospel  among  them. 

An  ardent  zeal  for  religion  is  good,  but  none  can  justify  a  zeal  which 
is  not  according  to  knowledge:  And  of  all  things,  except  indifference, 
this  is  most  fatal  to  true  Christianity  and  vital  godliness:  And  the 
latter  most  commonly  terminates  in  the  former.  The  constitution  of 
man  is  like  an  elastic  body  when  bent  by  violence,  and  will  return,  at 
least  to  its  original  position,  and  commonly  much  further.  In  proportion 
as  it  has  been  strained  too  far  one  way,  it  will  soon  vibrate  the  other: 
And  it  is  most  frequently  the  case,  that  those  men,  who  at  one  period 
of  life,  are  wound  up  to  the  highest  pitch  of  zeal  and  enthusiasm,  at 
another,  become  of  all  men  the  most  careless  and  indifferent  to  religion, 
and  often  its  greatest  enemies.  The  progress  is  direct  from  one  extreme 
to  the  other.  When  they  find  they  have  been  taught  to  lay  great  stress 
upon  that  as  religion  which  is  not  real,  but  imaginary,  they  at  length 
conclude  that  all  religion  is  nothing  but  imagination,  and  with  their 
superstition  they  relinquish  the  whole  as  a  fiction.  When  once  they 
are  removed  form  their  stedfastness,  it  is  uncertain  where  they  will 
light.  They  commonly  go  from  one  scheme  to  another  'til  they  come 
to  nothing.  The  first  onsets  therefore  made  upon  them,  to  shake  them 
from  their  stedfastness  in  religious  principles,  are  an  object  worthy 
their  particular  attention.  They  ought  ever  to  guard  against  such 
preachers  as  attempt  it,  and  treat  them  with  a  pious  neglect. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

It  may  be  expected  that  those  preachers  to  whom  we  allude  will 
appear  in  the  resemblance  of  blazing  comets  wandering  from  one  place 
to  another.  They  have  but  little  visible  likeness  to  the  fixed  stars  to 
which  the  ministers  of  Christ  are  compared.  They  have  a  zeal  for  God, 
it  is  true;  but  not  according  to  knowledge.  And  the  apostle,  speaking  of 
such  says,  "they  zealously  affect  you,  but  not  well,"  such  men  are  by  no 
means  to  be  encouraged.  The  gospel  of  Christ  is  not  to  be  preached 
by  a  novice,  nor  any  men  who  are  ignorant  and  unlearned.  It  is  to  be 
preached  only  by  men  of  learning  and  such  as  are  faithful,  apt  and 
able  to  teach:  And  such  men  only  are  to  be  esteemed  as  the  ambassadors 
of  Christ:  And  the  messages  that  they  deliver  are  to  be  treated  as  the 
oracles  of  God,  and  "mixed  with  faith  in  them  that  hear  them."  Every 
word  ought  to  be  received  as  a  message  from  the  King  of  heaven;  a 
message  in  which  the  salvation  of  men  is  deeply  concerned;  a  message 
for  which  all  who  hear  must  be  accountable.  And  happy  are  those  who 
treat  the  gospel  with  due  respect,  and  the  ministers  of  Christ  as  his  true 
ambassadors.  Blessed  are  those  who  received  the  word  into  good,  honest, 
and  upright  hearts.  "Blessed  indeed  are  they  who  hear  the  word  of 
God  and  keep  it." 

Having  thus,  as  briefly  as  possible,  gone  through  the  subject  pro- 
posed; permit  me  now, 

My  brethren,  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  to  remind  you  that  "we 
are  ambassadors  for  Christ."  Under  this  appellation  we  at  once  see 
what  an  extensive  field  there  is  open  before  us  for  action.  We  are  in  a 
moment  convinced  that  our  Lord  has  not  sent  us  forth  to  be  idle,  but  to 
labour:  And  our  duty  is  to  treat  with  men  and  bring  them  to  be  recon- 
ciled to  God.  And  what  an  arduous  work  have  we  before  us!  A  work 
to  which  an  angel,  if  clothed  in  flesh,  would  not  be  equal!  How  then  shall 
we  execute  the  important  embassy?  Thanks  be  to  God,  that  though 
utterly  unable  ourselves,  our  sufficiency  is  of  him.  And  through  him 
strengthening  us  we  can  do  all  things  that  he  has  commanded  us.  Re- 
lying then  upon  his  aid,  let  us  go  forward  and  never  "be  slothful  in  busi- 
ness"; but  "fervent  in  spirit  serving  the  Lord." 

The  Lord  hath  reposed  a  great  degree  of  trust,  my  brethren,  in  us. 
"I  have  set  watchmen,"  says  he,  "upon  thy  walls,  O  Jerusalem,  which 
shall  never  hold  their  peace  day  nor  night."  And  we  must  watch  contin- 
ually for  the  souls  of  men,  and  never  cease  to  warn  and  persuade  them. 
We  must  "in  meekness  instruct  those  who  oppose  themselves,  if  God 
peradventure  will  give  them  repentance  to  the  acknowledging  of  the 
truth." 

The  ministers  in  this  country  have  in  general  been  noted  for  their 
unamity  among  themselves;  and  for  their  faithfulness  in  the  work  of 
the  ministry.  Our  fathers  who  have  gone  before  us,  have  given  testimony 
of  their  fidelity  to  Christ  and  his  kingdom.  Let  us  then  "be  followers 
of  them  who  through  faith  and  patience  inherit  the  promises."  Let  us 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  287 

especially  follow  him  who  hath  made  it  our  duty  to  imitate  him  in  every 
virtue.  Let  us  all  study  the  best  good  of  our  respective  charges,  and 
thus  take  heed  to  ourselves,  and  to  the  people  committed  to  our  care. 
Let  nothing  retard  or  hinder  us  in  the  discharge  of  our  duty,  be  it  ever 
so  difficult  or  dangerous.  And  in  the  way  of  our  duty,  we  may  depend 
upon  the  divine  presence  with,  and  aid  to  support  us.  "Lo  I  am  with 
you  always,"  says  he,  "even  to  the  end  of  the  world." 

As  ambassadors  of  Christ,  and  as  men  who  are  engaged  to  promote 
his  interest;  it  must  give  us  peculiar  pleasure  when  we  see  the  pros- 
perity of  Zion,  and  the  advancement  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  in  the 
world.  Such  is  the  pleasure  we  all  undoubtedly  feel  on  this  solemn  yet 
joyful  occasion.  We  here  see  a  land  not  long  since  a  wilderness  becoming 
a  fruitful  field  and  peopled  with  men  of  religion.  We  here  see  churches 
rising  where  beasts  of  prey  were  wont  to  rove. 

And  this  place  too,  where  now  we  stand  before  the  Lord,  was  a  few 
years  since  a  desert  wild.  We  are  now  also  called  to  separate  a  man 
to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  in  a  place,  where  the  beams  of  the  gospel 
have  but  lately  begun  to  shine.  A  place  where  an  ambassador  of  Christ 
has  never  been  ordained.  He  is  a  man  likewise  who  we  hope  will  be 
faithful  to  his  trust.  Pray  we  then  for  the  further  prosperity  of  Zion, 
that  her  bounds  may  be  enlarged,  her  walls  built  up,  and  that  she  may 
be  established  as  a  city  that  is  at  unity  in  itself. 

It  is  with  pleasure,  my  dear  brother,  that  we  are  called  to  commit 
the  souls  of  this  people  to  your  care.  We  rejoice  that  a  man  of  your 
approved  abilities  is  to  take  the  charge  of  them. 

The  \vork  of  the  ministry,  we  are  sensible,  in,  every  respect,  is  not 
intirely  new  to  you.  It  has  been  your  constant  business  for  a  number 
of  years  to  preach  the  gospel.  Your  age  and  experience  will  now  there- 
fore give  you  many  advantages,  which  a  man  young  and  less  acquainted 
with  the  employment,  cannot  profess.  And  you  will  not  fail,  we  trust, 
to  improve  all  your  abilities,  both  natural  and  acquired,  for  the  glory 
of  God  and  the  best  good  of  this  people.  And  you  will  ever  remember 
that  "unto  whomsoever  much  is  given  of  him  shall  be  much  required." 

It  is  not  my  province  to  prescribe  to  you,  Sir,  the  rules  by  which 
you  are  to  regulate  your  conduct  either  in  public  or  private  life.  This 
is  already  done  by  the  great  head  of  the  church  himself.  And  you  are 
to  call  no  man  master  on  earth,  "for  one  is  your  master  even 
Christ."  I  wish  you  not  therefore  to  receive  any  as  a  standard  of  your 
faith,  except  Christ  and  the  inspired  penmen  of  the  old  and  new  testa- 
ment. You  may  not  consider  even  the  immortal  Calvin,  Arminius  or 
Luther  among  the  ancients,  nor  any  of  the  best  among  modern  writers 
as  infallible:  infallibility  belongs  not  to  men  any  further  than  they  con- 
form to  the  divine  oracles.  The  sacred  bible  is  therefore  the  best,  and 
indeed  the  only  standard  of  orthordoxy  given  us.  Let  the  bible  then  be 
the  standard  of  your  faith  and  practice.  Bring  every  sentiment  to  thia 


2gg  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

standard:  and  deliver  nothing  but  what  you  find  supported  by  this 
sacred  volume.  And  by  this,  let  all  your  conduct  as  well  as  preaching 
be  intirely  regulated  and  governed ;  and  endeavor  thus  to  approve  your- 
self to  God  and  the  consciences  of  men. 

The  world  in  general,  you  are  sensible,  dear  sir,  make  no  allowances 
for  any  inperfections  in  Christ's  ministers.  Many  scarcely  consider  that 
they  are  flesh  and  blood,  and  require  the  necessary  means  to  refresh, 
much  less  to  relax  or  invigorate  animal  nature.  You  will  expect  there- 
fore, that  the  least  spot  will  be  observed  with  a  microscopic  eye  and  made 
to  appear  a  blemish  of  the  first  magnitude.  Be  thou  therefore  as  wise 
as  a  serpent,  in  all  your  behaviour,  and  as  harmless  as  a  dove. 

While  your  heart  is  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  you 
desire  to  do  good  in  the  world,  you  will  continue  to  make  such  further 
improvements  in  useful  knowledge  as  you  are  able.  You  will  improve 
much  time  in  your  study,  in  searching  the  scriptures,  in  devotion,  and 
in  praying  for  your  people.  You  will  likewise  improve  every  opportunity 
to  converse  with  them  upon  religion  and  the  great  concerns  of  the  world 
to  come.  And  like  your  great  Lord  and  master,  you  will  go  about  con- 
tinually doing  good,  both  to  the  bodies  and  to  the  souls  of  men.  And 
you  will  never  fail  to  implore  the  influences  of  the  holy  spirit  to  direct 
you  in  your  studies,  to  aid  you  in  your  preaching  and  every  other  duty. 
Thus  will  you  be  enabled  to  understand  the  scriptures  and  find  your 
duty  both  agreeable  and  delightful.  And  under  the  divine  aid  you  will 
"shew  yourself  approved  of  God,  a  workman  that  needeth  not  to  be 
ashamed,  rightly  dividing  the  word  of  truth."  You  will  come  forth  as  a 
burning  and  shining  light,  being  heartily  engaged  in  the  cause  of  re- 
ligion; your  light  will  shine  before  men,  that  they  seeing  your  warm 
attachment  to  your  Lord,  and  desire  for  the  good  of  men,  will  glorify 
your  Saviour  and  Redeemer. 

The  charge  that  you  are  about  to  take  upon  you,  I  doubt  not,  at 
this  time,  notwithstanding  the  aid  you  expect  to  receive  from  above, 
presses  exceeding  heavy  upon  your  mind.  It  is  the  greatest,  in  its  nature 
and  importance,  ever  laid  upon  man;  it  is  so  great  indeed,  that  I  am 
sensible  that  you  must  receive  it  with  a  trembling  heart.  Your  thoughts 
naturally  fly  at  once  through  all  the  broad  field  of  duty  you  have  to 
pass;  and  from  thence  to  the  great  retribution  day,  when  you  and  all 
the  people  of  your  charge  shall  appear  before  the  bar  of  God.  And  0, 
what  a  heart-melting  consideration  is  this!  How  affecting  the  thought 
that  you  and  your  people  shall  there  stand  acquited  or  condemned,  ac- 
cording as  you  preach  and  they  hear  the  word  dispensed  by  you  here  on 
earth.  Let  not  such  thoughts  intirely  sink,  but  teach  you  care  and 
caution,  and  stimulate  you  to  an  ardent  zeal  finally  to  be  approved  by 
your  decisive  judge.  And  "be  thou  faithful  unto  the  death,"  saith  the 
great  Amen,  the  faithful  and  true  witness,  "and  I  will  give  thee  a  crown 
of  life." 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  289 

My  attention  is  now  of  course  turned  to  the  church  and  congregation 
in  this  town: 

My  beloved  brethren; 

We  most  heartily  congratulate  you  upon  the  prospect  of  having  a 
gospel  minister  settled  with  you.  You  will  I  doubt  not,  receive  as  a 
peculiar  smile  of  providence;  a  blessing  to  which  no  earthly  comforts 
can  be  compared.  Behold,  then  the  man,  whom  you  have  chosen  to  be 
your  guide.  Behold  him  now,  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  devoting  him- 
self to  you  and  your  service.  We  rejoice  that  you  have  made  choice  of 
a  man  so  well  calculated  to  serve  you  as  a  minister  of  Christ.  We  trust 
that  he  will  be  faithful  to  his  blessed  Lord  and  master,  and  to  you. 
Receive  him  then,  as  a  precious  gift  of  our  glorious  Redeemer;  a  gift, 
which  he  bequeathed  to  you  when  he  left  this  world  to  go  to  the  father. 
Attend  to  his  counsels  also,  as  the  messages  of  God  to  you  for  good: 
And  should  he  at  any  time  deliver  such  sentiments  as  you  do  not  under- 
stand, examine  them  with  care;  and  never  reject  them  without  the  most 
mature  deliberation.  The  more  you  attend  to  the  word  of  truth,  the 
better  able  you  will  be  to  judge  for  yourselves,  and  the  greater  degree 
of  candor  you  will  be  able  to  exercise  towards  your  minister.  And  when 
he  preaches  the  truths  of  the  gospel,  you  will  receive  them,  "not  as  the 
word  of  man,  but  as  they  are  indeed  the  word  of  God. 

You  have  discovered  your  regard  to  the  gospel,  at  least  in  some 
good  measure,  by  your  present  exertions.  We  trust  that  you  consider  it 
as  an  invaluable  treasure.  But  you  are  to  remember,  that  you  even  now, 
as  far  as  relates  to  your  minister,  have  this  treasure  in  an  earthern 
vessel;  a  vessel  liable  to  be  broken;  and  which  requires  care  and  attention 
in  the  usage.  You  will  then  never  treat  him  with  violence,  nor  expect 
greater  services  from  him  than  he  is  able  to  perform.  And  while  he  is 
faithful  to  his  charge,  you  will  esteem  him  as  an  ambassador  of  Christ. 
You  will  pray  that  the  spirit  of  God  may  attend,  assist,  strengthen,  and 
support  him.  And  you  will  likewise  pray,  that  all  his  labours  may  be 
crowned  with  success,  may  have  a  salutary  impression  upon  your  hearts, 
and  direct  you  in  the  way  of  life  and  happiness. 

And  may  he  who  walketh  amidst  the  golden  candlesticks,  who  hold- 
eth  the  stars  in  his  own  right  hand,  give  him  wisdom  to  dispense,  and 
you  grace  to  improve  the  word  of  truth.  May  you  live  together  in  peace 
and  harmony  here  on  earth,  and  finally  be  prepared  to  dwell  together 
forever  in  heaven. 

In  taking  leave  of  this  sacred  desk,  my  last  addresses  are  in  a  few 
words,  to  this  respectable  assembly. 

My  beloved  friends; 

You  have  all  heard  the  duty  of  a  minister  of  Christ.  And  if  you  have 
not  been  deficient  in  duty  to  yourselves,  you  have  by  this  time  in  many 
respects  learned  your  own.  You  are  sensible  that  the  great  end  of  his 
commission  is  to  bring  men  to  be  reconciled  to  God.  This  then  is  a  duty 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

to  which  you  are  particularly  to  attend.  And  in  conformity  to  it,  you 
will  treat  the  ministers  of  Christ  as  his  ambassadors,  the  sacred  gospel 
as  the  word  of  reconciliation,  and  make  this  the  invariable  rule  of  your 
faith  and  obedience.  Let  me  enjoin  it  upon  you  therefore,  that  you 
carefully  hear  and  heartily  obey  the  gospel  of  Christ;  that  you  speedily 
enter  into  a  covenant  of  peace,  and  become  reconciled  to  God.  And  I 
doubt  not,  my  brethren  in  the  ministry  here  present,  will  join  with  me 
in  this  interesting  request:  "As  though  God  did  beseech  you,"  then  "by 
us,  we  pray  you  in  Christ's  stead,  be  ye  reconciled  to  God.''  AMEN. 

THE   CHARGE. 

He  that  is  the  Church's  head  builder,  maker  and  ruler,  to  whom  all 
judgment  is  committed,  and  from  whom  all  power  is  derived,  has 
promised  that  "the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail  against  it."  So  that 
while  the  world  stands,  Christ  will  have  a  church  in  it,  in  which  his 
truths  and  ordinances  shall  be  owned  and  kept  up  in  spite  of  all  the 
opposition  of  the  powers  of  darkness. 

To  give  us  an  assurance  of  this  he  has  appointed  a  succession  of 
the  gospel  ministry  to  act  for  and  under  him.  in  his  ecclesiastical  king- 
dom, through  all  ages  of  men,  to  whom  he  has  promised  his  gracious 
presence,  even  to  the  end  of  the  world:  As  in  the  commission  which 
he  first  gave  to  the  apostles,  and  the  promise  made  by  him  to  them,  who 
were  the  chief  ministers  of  state  in  his  kingdom,  to  whom  we  find  he 
said,  "All  power  is  given  unto  me  in  heaven  and  earth.  Go  ye  therefore 
and  teach  all  nations,  baptising  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and 
of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost:  Teaching  them  to  observe  all  things 
whatsoever  I  have  commanded  you;  and  lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even 
unto  the  end  of  the  world."  This  like  the  Old  Testament  promise  of  a 
gospel  ministry  is  made  to  a  succession — like  that  in  Isaiah,  59,  21.  "This 
is  my  convenant  with  them  saith  the  Lord,  my  spirit  that  is  upon  thee, 
and  my  words  which  I  have  put  in  thy  mouth,  shall  not  depart  out  of 
thy  mouth,  nor  out  of  the  mouth  of  thy  seed,  nor  out  of  the  mouth  of  thy 
seeds'  seed,  saith  the  Lord,  from  henceforth  and  forever."  For  if,  this 
"lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world" 
must  be  understood  otherwise,  how  could  he  "be  with  them  al- 
way, even  unto  the  end  of  the  world,"  who  died  soon  after. 
It  must  be  understood  of  a  succession,  "lo,  I  am  with  you  al- 
way, even  unto  the  end  of  the  world,"  that  is  saith  one,  "with  you 
and  your  successors,  with  you  and  all  the  ministers  of  the  gospel  in  the 
several  ages  of  the  church,  with  all  to  whom  this  commission  extends, 
and  with  all  that  being  duly  called  and  sent,  thus  baptize  and  thus  teach." 
"When  the  end  of  the  world  is  come,  and  the  kingdom  delivered  up  to 
God,  even  the  Father;  there  will  be  no  further  need  of  ministers,  and 
their  ministration;  but  'til  then  they  shall  continue,  and  the  great  in- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


291 


tentions  of  the  institution  shall  be  answered,  which  is  to  transmit  the 
gospel  from  age  to  age,  to  the  end  of  the  world  among  the  nations  of  the 
earth,''  who  would  soon  degenerate  without  a  monitor  and  standing 
ministry,  and  be  wrapt  up  in  error  and  darkness.  For,  the  Bible  is  not 
enough  without  this  institution;  therefore  the  same  Christ  that  instituted 
apostles  to  write  scripture,  instituted  pastors  and  teachers  to  open  and 
apply  it;  who  by  his  appointment  are  to  be  set  apart  to  that  honorable 
and  important  work,  by  solemn  ordination,  with  fasting  and  prayer,  and 
the  laying  on  of  hands. 

The  rite  of  imposing  hands  we  find  in  the  New  Testament  was  used 
in  setting  apart  of  gospel  ministers — nothing  a  soleman  designation  of 
them  to  the  office,  and  an  earnest  desire  that  God  would  qualify  them 
for  it,  and  own  them  in  it.  Thus  Barnabas  and  Saul  were  separated  to 
the  work.  Thus  Timothy  was  ordained  by  the  laying  of  the  hands  of  the 
presbytery,  in  the  presence  of  many  witnesses.  Thus  ministers  now  are 
to  be  ordained. 

The  church  and  people  of  God  in  this  town  of  Wolfborough  having 
been  led,  we  hope,  by  his  gracious  Sovereign  Providence,  to  make  choice 
of  Mr.  Ebenezer  Allen  to  be  set  over  them  in  the  Lord,  to  minister  to 
them  in  holy  things,  as  the  church  have  now  renewed  their  choice  and 
call  in  the  presence  and  view  of  the  great  assembly,  and  he  having  also 
manifested  his  acceptance  of  this  their  call,  We  therefore  being  ordained 
ministers  in  the  several  churches  to  which  we  belong,  and  having  the 
concurrence  of  our  reverend  brethren,  with  the  delegates  of  the  churches 
in  this  venerable  council  convened  on  this  weighty  affair  of  Christ's 
kingdom,  Do  now  solemnly  put  our  hands  on  him,  uniting  in  our  prayers 
to  God  the  Father,  in  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  for  all  needed 
blessings.  That  he  would  enrich  this  his  servant  ^/ith  treasures  of  wis- 
dom and  knowledge. 

Dear  Brother, 

We  charge  you,  before  the  all-seeing  and  heart-searching  God,  and 
in  the  name  and  by  the  authority  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  "whose  eyes 
are  as  a  flame  of  fire,"  beholding  all  things,  that  you  take  heed  to  your- 
self, to  your  doctrines,  to  your  ministration  in  holy  things,  and  to  your 
conversation  and  whole  conduct  of  life.  That  you  study  to  approve  your- 
self, as  much  as  in  you  lies,  to  God,  and  to  the  conscience  of  your  be- 
holders. 

Take  heed  to  thyself  in  the  first  place,  look  well  to  the  state  of 
thine  own  soul.  Beware  now  of  hypocrisy  and  formality.  Consider  that 
in  this  solemn  scene  in  which,  you  have  the  charge  of  souls  committed 
to  you,  you  have  to  do  with  one  that  seeth  not  as  man  seeth — a  God  that 
looketh  on  the  heart.  See  therefore  that  you  do  indeed  devote  yourself 
in  sincerity  to  his  service  in  the  gospel  of  his  Son. 

Take  heed  also  to  thy  doctrine.  See  that  it  be  good, — the  doctrine 
of  Christ — a  doctrine  accordingly  to  godliness.  "Speak  thou  the  things 


292 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


which  become  sound  doctrine."  Approve  thyself  to  God — "a  workman 
that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed;"  and  in  order  hereto,  give  thyself  to 
reading,  meditation  and  prayer.  Make  the  word  of  God  the  great  subject 
of  your  studies — the  alone  subject  of  your  preaching,  and  feed  the 
people  now  committed  to  your  care,  with  the  knowledge  and  understand- 
ing of  this.  You  are  not  called  to  range  the  schools — to  follow  th-  mazes 
of  metaphysics;  the  plan  of  your  work  is  complete  in  the  sacred  volume; 
every  principle  of  faith,  every  rule  of  life  you  are  to  teach,  every1  argu- 
ment and  motive  to  enforce  the  Christian  faith  and  practice.  Keep  close 
thereto;  and  let  every  human  composure  have  but  a  second  place  in  your 
regard.  Lay  the  stress  of  your  preaching  where  the  gospel  lays  the 
stress  of  religion,  and  insist  rather  on  the  great  and  evident  duties  of 
Christianity,  than  on  circumstantials.  Be  sparing  in  matters!  of  doubt- 
ful disputation,  wherein  good  and  wise  men  have  found  difficulties,  which 
but  remotely  affect  the  Christian's  faith  and  hope. 

We  charge  you  further  to  take  heed  to  your  holy  ministrations — ad- 
minister the  sacraments  of  Christ's  institution,  viz. — Baptism  with  water, 
to  the  proper  subjects  of  it,  and'  the  Lord's  supper,  to  visible  believers 
of  blameless  lives — look  well  to  the  whole  flock  committed  to  your 
charge:  Feed  the  "sheep,"  and  also  feed  the  "lambs."  Keep  up  gospel 
discipline  in  the  church,  with  impartiality,  not  preferring  one  above 
another  in  judging  the  causes  brought  before  you. 

Bear  a  just  and  faithful  testimony  against  sin,  and  every  scandal 
with  whomsoever  it  shall  be  found,  not  fearing  the  faces  of  men,  nor 
having  their  persons  in  admiration  because  of  advantage. 

Moreover  we  charge  you  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  in  the  name  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  that  you  take  special  heed  to  your  conversation,  and 
whole  conduct  in  life — "Be  thou  an  example  of  the  believers,  in  word, 
in  conversation,  in  charity,  in  spirit,  in  faith,  in  purity."  Teach  by 
example,  as  well  as  doctrine. 

Live  out  the  blessed  gospel  you  preach  before  the  eyes  of  the  people, 
in  the  amiable  and  engaging  beauties  of  practical  holiness  as  ever  you 
would  hope  to  be  successful  in  your  labours,  ior  people  will  ever  take  it 
for  truth  that  actions  speak  louder  than  words.  "Therefore  seeing  you 
have  received  this  ministry,  faint  not,  renounce  the  hidden  things  of 
dishonesty,  not  walking  in  craftiness,  nor  handling  the  word  of  God 
deceitfully,  but  by  manifestation  of  the  truth,  commend  yourself  to  every 
man's  conscience  in  the  light  of  God." 

(Bless  the  people  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  the  same  ministry 
you  have  received  of  the  Lord  Jesus  "commit  thou  to  faithful  men  who 
shall  be  able  to  teach  others  also.") 

If  you  thus  faithfully  fulfil  your  trust,  no  man  will  despise  you,  a 
consciousness  of  your  integrity  will  support  you  under  all  the  cares 
and  difficulties  you  may  be  called  to  encounter  for  the  sake  of  the  cause 
in  which  you  are  engaged:  All  but  the  abandoned  of  mankind  will  re- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


293 


spect  you;  the  good,  the  virtuous  will  be  your  friends,  your  vindicators; 
and,  what  is  infinitely  more,  that  being,  who  has  said,  "those  that  honor 
me,  I  will  honor,"  will  be  your  shield  and  your  exceeding  great  reward. — 
AMEN. 

THE   RIGHT   HAND   OF   FELLOWSHIP. 

The  ceremony  of  giving-the  Right-Hand  is  as  ancient  as  the  Christian 
church;  and  its  authority  is  derived  from  the  apostles  of  our  Lord. — 
It  is  an  action,  expressive  of  that  cordial  friendship,  and  social  inter- 
course which  exhibits  a  beautiful  portrait  of  the  genius  of  that  religion, 
which  ought  ever  to  be  supreme  in  the  hearts  of  gospel  ministers,  which 
they  should  exercise  towards  each  other,  and  inculcate  upon  mankind. 
The  public  teachers  of  religion  being  expected  to  iabour  in  one  common 
cause,  as  under  shepherds  of  the  great  over-seer  of  souls;  and  under  the 
orders  of  their  divine  commander,  the  great  Captain  of  their  salvation, 
are  bound  to  yield  the  sword  of  the  spirit  in  a  most  violent  conflict  with 
a  guileful  and  potent  adversary.  The  combined  force  of  earth,  and  the 
powers  of  the  gloomy  regions  being  directly  opposed  to  the  success  of 
the  gospel;  they  who  are  set  for  the  defence  of  the  truth,  should  ever 
be  prompt  to  aid  each  other,  and  see  that  their  hearts  are  knit  together 
in  Christian  love. 

The  venerable  council  here  convened,  under  the  influence  of  this 
persuasion,  have  appointed  me,  to  give  the  pledge  of  friendship,  and 
earnest  of  their  brotherly  support  unto  him,  who  hath  this  day  been 
regularly  ordained  a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  by  prayer  and  the  laying  on 
of  hands.  Therefore,  Rev.  and  dear  sir,  we  do  present  you  with  this 
our  right  hand,  and  with  it,  covenant  to  hold  fellowship  with  you  in  all 
social  religious  acts,  as  duty  shall  require. 

And  now  my  brother,  if  thy  heart  be  right  with  our  hearts,  animated 
with  ardent  love  to  precious  souls,  stimulated  with  holy  zeal  in  the  cause 
of  our  divine  Master,  come  up  with  us  into  the  chariot  of  the  gospel,  and 
following  the  banners  of  our  heavenly  leader — be  a  faithful  minister — 
prove  instrumental  of  adding  to  the  success,  and  you  shall  finally  par- 
ticipate in  the  .triumph  of  him,  who  goeth  forth  conquering  and  to 
conquer. 

Brethren  of  this  church,  accept  our  congratulations  on  this  aus- 
picious day.  We  have  beheld  you  witnessing  a  good  confession,  and, 
in  conformity  to  the  example  of  the  holy  prophet,  ,you  have  set  up  your 
Ebenezer.  and  said,  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped  us. — We  greet  you 
as  a; sister  church.  May  you  go  on  and  prosper.  Give  evidence  by  your 
Christian  conversation,  and  exemplary  conduct,  that  you  are  not  ashamed 
of  the  gospel;  and  may  you  at  last  reap  the 'glorious  reward,  contained 
in  that  promise  of  the  great  Head  of  the  church  "Unto  him  that  over- 
cometh,  will  I  grant  to  sit  with  me,  in  my  (throne;  even,  as  I  also  over- 
came, and  am  set  down  with  my  father  in  his  throne." 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

The  entertainment  on  the  occasion  of  Mr.  Allen's  ordination 
was  provided  at  the  Cabbott-Wentworth  Farm.  The  committee's 
bill  for  stores  and  services  here  follows : — 

"Town  of  Wolfborough  Dr. 

To  the  committee  appointed  to  provide  entertainment  for  the 
council  attending  at  the  ordination  of  Rev.  Mr.  Allen 

For  31-2  gallons  rum  £i —  2 — 9 

"     4                       wine  I — 10 — o 

*'     71-4  Ibs.  loaf  sugar  13 — 8 

"     42        "     brown  sugar  i —  5 — o 

"     21-2  doz.  lemons  5 — ° 

"     amt.  of  Captain  John  Martin's  acct.  for 

victuals  and  horse  keeping  3 — 18 — 6 
"     time  and  expense  of  Capt.  Libbey  in  go- 
ing after  stores  i — 5 — 6 


£10—  0—5 

time  of  committee  attending  to  said  business 
3  days  of  Captain  Libbey  @  3  shillings          £o — 9 
3     "      "  Richard  Rust     @  3  o — 9 

7     "      "  Stephen  Home  @  3  i — i 

6     "      "  Henry  Rust       ©3  o— 18 


£2 — 17 
ID—  0—5 

£12—17—5 

The  first  day  of  the  following  March  a  tax  of  twenty-one  pounds 
two  shillings  and  eleven  pence  was  assessed  to  cover  the  above 
bill  of  expenses  and  the  cost  of  laying  the  gallery  floors.  The  or- 
der for  collecting  the  same  was  not  signed  by  the  Quaker  select- 
man, Moses  Varney,  and  the  names  of  some  Quakers  and  Baptists 
were  not  on  the  list  of  tax-payers,  which  included  about  ninety 
persons. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

FIRST  MINISTER'S  LOT — THE  PARSONAGE — MINISTERIAL  TAX — 
VARNEY'S  PETITION — EXEMPTS — THE  LAWSUIT — THE 
GLOVE — ALLEN'S  ANCESTRY  AND  POSTERITY — His  WORK 
AND  CHARACTER — SUDDEN  DEATH — COMPARISON  OF  THE 
Two  FIRST  CLERGYMEN — SKETCH  OF  ELDER  TOWNSEND. 

IT  has  already  been  noticed  that  one  lot  in  the  Masonian  Pro- 
prietors' division  of  Wolfeborough  was  intended  for  the  first 
minister  who  should  be  settled  in  the  town.  At  the  drawing  in 
1766  this  was  designated  to  be  lot  eighteen,  which  was  situated 
in  the  northwesterly  part  of  the  town,  near  Beech  Pond,  and  con- 
tained three  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  Its  surface  was  very 
broken,  and  its  location  inconvenient  for  the  residence  of  the  town 
minister.  Arrangements  were  made  with  Mr.  Cabbott,  then  pro- 
prietor of  the  Wentworth  Farm,  to  exchange  this  tract  of  land  for 
one  more  suitable.  The  lot  selected  adjoined  the  ten  acre  lot  as- 
signed for  public  uses,  and  on  the  east  end  bordered  on  Lake 
Wentworth.  It  was  on  the  road  leading  from  the  southern  to  the 
northern  part  of  the  town,  and  was  a  most  desirable  location  for  a 
parsonage. 

Without  controversy  Mr.  Allen  was  entitled  to  the  lot.  Al- 
though Mr.  Townsend  was  first  ordained,  and  was  a  minister  of 
the  town,  he  was  not,  however,  the  town  minister,  being  ordained 
by  a  voluntary  religious  association,  whereas  Mr.  Allen  was  or- 
dained by  the  town  corporation  itself.  There  is  no  evidence  that 
Mr.  Townsend  or  his  adherents  ever  claimed  any  right  to  the 
minister's  lot. 

Although  Mr.  Allen  was  settled  in  1792,  he  did  not  commence 
housekeeping1  until  after  his  marriage,  which  occurred  four  years 
later.  In  the  meantime  a  portion  of  his  lot  was  cleared  and  build- 

295 


296 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


mgs  erected.  These  were  located  about  twenty  rods  from  the 
shore  of  the  lake.  There  the  two-story  part  of  the  house  re- 
mained for  several  years  after  his  decease,  when  it  was  removed 
to  Wolfeborough  Center,  and  is  now  a  part  of  the  dwelling-  of  J. 
Frank  Chamberlin.  The  remainder  of  the  parsonage  building  be- 
came the  residence  of  his  son,  David  Tappan  Allen,  who  married 
Rosamond  Key,  and  had  two  daughters,  namely  Betsy  Ann  and 
Sophia.  He  died  when  a  comparatively  young  man. 

At  the  annual  town-meeting  of  1793  the  town  voted  "not  to 
exempt  persons  of  the  Baptist  persuasion  from  paying  their  pro- 
portion of  Mr.  Allen's  salary  for  the  previous  year."  The  follow- 
ing May  it  was  voted  that  Mr.  Allen  should  have  the  use  of  a 
portion  of  the  meeting-house  lot  for  ten  years,  and  that  the  labor 
tax  to  be  expended  on  his  buildings  should  be  at  the  rate  of  three 
shillings  per  day.  It,  however,  declined  to  aid  him  in  clearing 
land.  At  a  town-meeting  held  Nov.  7,  1796,  it  was  voted  not  to  re- 
lease any  person  from  paying  a  minister's  tax  who  had  paid  one 
since  Mr.  Allen's  settlement. 

Tt  seems  that  the  town  had  been  neglectful  in  furnishing  Mr. 
Allen  with  his  annual  supply  of  wood,  he  not  receiving  any  for 
three  years.  In  1796  Mr.  Allen  required  a  compliance  with  the 
terms  of  settlement  in  this  particular.  The  town  offered  him 
several  additional  free  Sabbaths,  but  these  he  refused,  and  at  a 
town-meeting  held  Dec.  29,  it  was  voted  that  the  inhabitants  of 
the  town  of  Wolfeborough  haul  to  Ebenezer  Allen's  house 
seventy-five  cords  of  wood  by  the  first  day  of  March  next  for  the 
deficiency,  that  the  selectmen  make  out  the  proportion  for  the 
several  persons  taxable,  according  to  poll  and  estate,  and  that 
each  person  assessed  furnish  his  allotted  proportion.  The  select- 
men assessed  sixty-two  persons  for  one  hundred  cords  of  wood, 
that  including  the  amount  for  which  the  town  was  in  arrears  and 
the  allowance  for  the  current  year.  The  quantity  apportioned 
to  individuals  varied  from  1-2  a  cord  foot  to  one  cord  and  ninety- 
seven  feet,  Benning  Brackett  having  the  smallest  allotment  and 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


297 


Jonathan  Hersey  the  largest.  After  this  time  the  minister's  wood 
was  furnished  by  the  person  who  would  provide  it  at  the  lowest 
price,  and  that  was  at  first  less  than  ten  dollars  a  year.  It  is  said 
that  the  one  hundred  cords  of  wood  were  delivered  to  Mr.  Allen 
in  three  days. 

The  warrants  for  the  annual  taxes  at  this  time  were  of  the  fol- 
lowing amounts:  minister's  tax,  £46 — n — i;  school  tax, 
£28 — i — 4;  town  tax,  £18 — 13 — 7.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  school 
and  town  tax  combined  exceeded  the  minister's  tax  by  only 
three  shillings  and  ten  pence.  Undoubtedly  most  of  the  persons 
who  objected  to  paying  the  enforced  minister's  tax  did  so  from 
conscientious  motives,  yet  it  is  not  improbable  that  some  wished 
only  to  escape  the  burden  of  taxation.  At  the  annual  town- 
meeting  in  1798  it  was  voted  "that  no  person  be  cleared  from 
paying  a  tax  for  Mr.  Allen  that  has  paid  heretofore."  At  a  town- 
meeting  held  in  August  of  the  same  year  it  was  voted  not  to  in- 
crease Mr.  Allen's  salary  to  sixty  pounds. 

In  1799  the  following  petition  was  presented  to  the  select- 
men, previous  to  issuing  the  warrant  for  the  annual  meeting: — 

"Wolfborough,  March  8.  1799. 
Gentlemen  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Wolfborough  : 

We,  your  petitioners,  humbly  pray  you  to  insert  a  clause  in 
your  warrant,  desiring  the  town  to  pass  a  vote  to  separate  the 
business  of  the  town  and  the  business  of  the  parish,  and  that  the 
parish  choose  its  own  officers  to  do  the  business  of  the  parish  by 
itself,  for  the  business  has  been  done  in  such  a  way  that  the 
Quakers  and  Baptist  Society  have  ever  been  paying  a  part  of 
making  and  collecting  Ebenezer  Allen's  tax,  which  they  think  to 
be  very  unjust.  Therefore,  we,  your  humble  petitioners,  pray  that 
the  vote  may  be  passed  to  separate  the  business,  and  in  so  doing, 
you  will  do  justice  to  them,  and  likewise  to  their  humble  pe- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

titioners,  and  for  which  we,  your  humble  petitioners,  will  ever 

pray. 

Joseph  Varney 
Andrew  Wiggin  3rd." 

The  selectmen  say  in  their  warrant,  "the  petition  of  Joseph 
Varney  and  others."  There  is  no  doubt  that  other  names  were 
attached  to  the  petition,  as  the  paper  is  partially  destroyed,  evi- 
dently by  accident.  These  petitioners  were  obviously  not  at  this 
time  paying  a  minister's  tax,  but  simply  desired  to  have  no  con- 
nection with  the  matter  whatever.  The  petition  was  not  granted. 

The  following  persons  had  already  been  exempted  from  paying 
anything  toward  the  support  of  Mr.  Allen,  viz.,  Henry  Allard, 
Walter  Avery,  Daniel  Bassett  and  father,  Thomas  Chase,  Josiah 
Chase,  Jonathan  Edmonds,  Elijah  Estes,  John  Furbur,  Isaac 
Jones,  John  Snell,  Thomas  Nute,  Isaac  Townsend,  Israel  Piper, 
William  Rust,  William  Rogers,  Stephen  Thurston,  Moses  Var- 
ney, Joseph  Varney,  Jesse  Whitten,  Andrew  Wiggin,  3rd,  Rich- 
ard Marden,  Samuel  Estes,  Samuel  Nowell. 

At  the  annual  town-meeting  of  1802  Thomas  Cotton  and 
others  petitioned  to  be  released  from  paying  a  minister's  tax,  but 
the  town  refused  to  grant  their  request.  The  following  October 
the  selectmen,  who  were  Mark  Wiggin,  Dudley  Hardy,  and 
Jonathan  Blake,  assessed  Cotton  with  a  ministerial  tax  of  one 
dollar  and  ninety-two  cents,  and  committed  it  with  other  taxes  to 
Samuel  Tibbetts,  the  town  collector,  for  collection.  On  the 
twelfth  day  of  January,  1803,  'Tibbetts  took  by  distraint  a  cow 
belonging  to  Cotton,  which  he  sold  at  public  auction,  and  thereby 
secured  the  payment  of  the  tax.  Cotton  sued  the  selectmen  for 
trespass. 

January  12,  1804,  the  matter  was  brought  before  the  people 
at  a  town-meeting  called  for  that  purpose,  and  Stephen  Home 
was  chosen  agent  to  defend  the  town  in  the  suit.  He  subsequently 
declined  the  appointment,  and  Jacob  Haines  was  chosen  in  his 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  299 

stead.  The  following  persons,  being  present  at  the  meeting,  re- 
quested that  their  dissent  against  carrying  on  a  lawsuit  with  Cot- 
ton be  recorded :  Benning  Brackett,  Isaac  Cotton,  James  Cotton, 
Cornelius  Jenness,  Joseph  Jenness,  Thomas  Frost,  Valentine 
Wormwood,  Samuel  Hide,  William  Cotton,  John  Young,  Wil- 
liam Fernald,  Moses  Thompson,  Samuel  Hide,  Jr.,  John  Snell, 
Josiah  Frost,  George  Cotton,  John  W.  Fernald,  Stephen  Nute, 
John  Furbur,  Aaron  Frost,  James  Fernald,  James  Cate,  John 
Warren,  John  P.  Cotton,  Josiah  Willey. 

It  is  not  probable  that  the  suit — Cotton  versus  the  town  of  Wolfe- 
borough — progressed  much  during  1805.  Although  the  parties 
appeared  at  the  court  in  Dover,  there  was  no  trial.  November  6, 
1805,  John  L.  Piper  was  chosen  agent  to  defend  the  town  in  the 
suit.  Probably  the  case  was  still  delayed. 

In  1806,  Mr.  Allen  having  deceased,  the  town  proposed  to 
settle  with  Mr.  Cotton  on  the  following  terms :  to  pay  him  twenty 
dollars  for  the  cow  taken  by  distraint ;  to  abate  the  tax  for  which 
it  was  taken ;  and  pay  its  own  costs,  which,  including  the  price 
of  the  cow,  amounted  to  seventy-five  dollars  or  more.  On  these 
conditions  Cotton  withdrew  the  suit.  This  ended  compulsory 
taxation  for  ministerial  support  in  Wolfeborough ;  nor  did  the 
town  as  a  corporate  body  ever  afterward  hire  preaching.  Propo- 
sitions to  do  so  were  a  few  times  inserted  in  the  town  warrant,  but 
in  no  instance  did  they  receive  favorable  action. 

By  an  accident  which  happened  many  years  ago,  the  manu- 
scripts of  Mr.  Allen  were  destroyed,  but  some  facts  have  been 
learned  in  relation  to  both  his  ancestry  and  posterity. 

George  Allen  was  born  in  England  about  1568,  and  came  to 
America  in  1635,  settling  two  years  later  in  Sandwich,  Mass., 
where  he  was  chosen  deputy.  His  son.  Samuel  Allen,  also  born 
in  England,  came  over  with  the  first  settlers  of  Boston  in  1628, 
and  died  in  Braintree,  Mass.,  in  1669.  He  had  a  son,  James, 
born  in  1636  in  Braintree,  who  married  Elizabeth  Perkins,  and 
settled  on  Martha's  Vineyard  in  1660.  Ichabod,  the  son  of  James 


300 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUQH. 


Allen,  and  the  grandfather  of  the  town  minister,  was  born  in 
1676,  and  died  in  1755.  His  son  Ebenezer  was  born  in  1716,  and 
lived  at  Holmes  Hole,  now  Vineyard  Haven,  Mass.,  where  in 
1746  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Allen  was  born. 

Mr.  Allen  came  to  Wolfeborough  in  the  summer  or  early 
autumn  of  1792,  thus  recommended: — 

"June  11,  1792. 

This  may  certify  that  Mr.  Ebenezer  Allen  graduated  at  the  University 
of  Cambridge  in  the  year  1771;  that  he  sustained  a  good  moral  character; 
that  he  is  esteemed  well  as  a  preacher  of  the  .gospel,  and  as  such  may  be 
improved  by  any  people  who  shall  think  proper  to  invite  him. 

Isaac  Merrill,  pastor  of  the  church  in  Wilmington;  John  French,  pastor 
of  a  church  in  Andover;  John  Shaw,  pastor  of  the  First  Cuurch  in  Haver- 
hill;  Gyies  Merrill,  pastor  of  the  church  in  Plaistow;  Jonathan  Eames, 
pastor  of  the  church  in  Newton,  N.  H.;  Samuel  Webster,  pastor  of  a 
church  in  Salisbury;  Ebenezer  Thayer,  pastor  of  the  church  in  Hampton; 
Thomas  Gary,  pastor  of  the  First  Church  in  Newburyport;  John  Andrew, 
junior  pastor  of  the  same  church;  Francis  Webb,  pastor  of  a  church  in 
Amesbury;  Benjamin  Thurston,  pastor  of  a  church  in  New  Hampton; 
Samuel  Langdon,  D.  D. ;  Samuel  Haven,  D.  D. ;  James  Miltemore,  pastor 
of  the  church  in  Stratham." 

In  early  life  Mr.  Allen  lost  a  portion  of  an  arm,  the  result  of  a 
shooting  accident.  On  the  stump  he  always  wore,  when  in  the 
pulpit,  a  black  silk  mitten.  Here  an  incident  is  permissible.  Near 
the  close  of  the  day  preceding  his  ordination,  it  occurred  to  the 
manager  of  the  anticipated  ceremonials  that  a  silk  glove  was 
wanted  for  the  sound  hand.  None  could  be  found.  Mrs.  Bas- 
sett,  the  wife  of  John  Bassett,  the  Quaker,  had  the  reputation 
of  being  the  most  rapid  knitter  in  town,  and  she  was  deputed  to 
furnish  the  glove.  She  accomplished  the  task,  and  the  required 
hand-covering  was  presented  to  Mr.  Allen  as  he  was  entering  the 
desk  to  be  ordained. 

Mr.  Allen  was  a  good  man  with  fair  literary  acquirements,  and 
though  not  remarkable  for  pulpit  oratory,  maintained  a  creditable 
standing  as  a  preacher.  He  was  universally  respected  by  his 
fellow-citizens,  and  during  his  ministry  added  a  score  of  mem- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


301 


bers  to  the  church  of  which  he  was  pastor.  No  doubt  his  suc- 
cess would  have  been  greater,  had  the  people  of  Wolfeborough 
been  in  perfect  agreement  as  to  the  support  of  the  clergy.  The 
care  of  a  rapidly  increasing  family  and  the  subduing  of  a  forest 
farm  required  no  small  share  of  his  attention.  The  following 
memoranda  are  still  preserved  in  the  handwriting  of  Mr.  Allen : — 

"Copy  of  family  record  (date  of  marriage  and 
birth  of  children)   of  Rev.  Bbenezer  Allen  and  Miss 
Bets  Fernald. 

On  Tuesday,  Nov.  8,  1796,  Mr.  Bbenezer  Allen  and  Miss  Bets  Fernald 
were  joined  in  marriage. 

On  Tuesday,  April  4,  1797,  moved  into  Mr.  Allen's  house. 

On  Tuesday,  July  4,,  1797,  Mrs.  Alien  was  delivered  of  a  daughter 
about  3  o'clock  P.  M.  The  next  morning,  July  5,  a  little  after  daybreaking 
the  child  was  baptized  ;by  the  name  of  Lois. 

On  Sunday,  May  27,  1798,  Mrs.  Allen  was  delivered  of  another 
daughter  about  10  o'clock  in  the  morning..  On  Sunday,  July  1,  Mrs.  Allen 
was  admitted  a  member  of  the  church  and  the  child  baptized  by  the  name 
of  Sarah. 

On  Monday,  Oct.  21,  1799,  about  ten  minutes  before  5  o'clock  P.  M. 
we  had  another  daughter  born.  On  Sunday,  Nov.  17,  the  child  was 
baptized  by  the  name  of  Bets  Ann. 

On  Tuesday,  May  5,  1801,, about  thirty  minutes  past  9  o'clock  P.  M. 
we  had  a  son  born.  On  Sunday,  June  17,  the  child  was  baptized  by  the 
name  of  Ebenezer. 

On  Wednesday,  Sept.  17,  1803,  about  thirty  minutes  past  6  o'clock 
A.  M.  we  had  another  son  born.  On  Sunday,  ,0cto.  9,  the  child  was 
baptized  oy  the  name  of  David  Tappan. 

On  Friday,  Feb.  22,  1805,  about  ten  minutes  rast  1  o'clock  P.  M.  we 
had  a  third  son  born.  On  Sunday,  May  26,  the  chilu  was  baptized  by  the 
name  of  Alpheus  Spring." 

The  oldest  child,  Lois,  weighed  only  one  and  a  half  pounds  at 
birth.  The  father,  fearing  it  would  be  short-lived,  hastened  to 
bring  it  ceremonially  within  the  pale  of  the  church.  The  child 
did  live,  however,  and  became  a  robust  women  of  more  than  or- 
dinary size.  She  married  Henry  Veazie,  of  North  Wolfeborough, 
a  shoe-maker  and  whilom  a  taverner.  Some  of  her  children  now 
live  in  Minnesota. 


.302  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Sarah,  the  second  daughter,  died  in  Boston  many  years  ago. 
Bets  Ann  married  Dr.  Thomas  J.  Tebbetts,  who  was  the  eldest 
of  a  family  of  thirteen  children  born  to  Samuel  Tebbetts,  of 
Brookfield.  He  settled  in  North  Wolfeborough  in  1815,  and  re- 
mained there  during  his  lifetime.  Mrs.  Tebbetts  became  the 
mother  of  eleven  children,  all  of  whom  reached  maturity,  but  are 
now,  with  the  exception  of  G.  W.  O.  Tebbetts,  a  pharmacist  in 
Manchester,  deceased.  Several  of  them  made  their  homes  in 
Manchester,  being  either  practicing  physicians  or  druggists. 

Ebenezer  married  Mary,  the  daughter  of  Capt.  James  Nute,  by 
whom  he  had  several  daughters  and  one  son,  George,  who  be- 
came a  clergyman,  dying  young.  After  the  opening  of  the  range- 
road  from  the  town  meeting-house  to  Wolfeborough  Center  and 
beyond,  he  erected  buildings  on  that  road.  They  are  now  oc- 
cupied by  Frank  B.  Kenney.  David  Tappan  has  already  been 
noticed.  Alpheus  Spring  left  home  when  young,  was  long  ab- 
sent, and  returned  an  invalid,  dying  among  his  early  friends. 

Mr.  Allen  died  of  apoplexy  Sunday,  July  17,  1806,  at  the  age 
of  sixty  years,  having  preached  as  usual  in  the  forenoon.  His 
wife  died  January  24,  1810,  aged  thirty-three  years.  They  were 
buried  in  the  cemetery  near  the  town-meeting  house.  As  the 
neighborhood  has  never  become  thickly  populated,  compartively 
few  persons  have  been  buried  there,  other  places  more  con- 
venient for  interment  having  been  selected.  The  graves  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Allen  shared  in  the  general  neglect  of  the  yard.  The 
headstone  was  thrown  down  and  broken,  and  so  remained  for 
many  years.  In  1899  Thomas  L.  Marden,  a  native  and  former 
resident  of  Wolfeborough,  who  now  has  his  home  in  Lynn,  Mass., 
but  annually  visits  the  town,  repaired  and  set  up  the  headstone, 
being  assisted  in  the  undertaking  by  William  Paris,  grandson  of 
the  late  Elder  Cummins  Paris. 

In  the  lives  and  environments  of  the  town  minister,  Rev. 
Ebenezer  Allen,  and  the  contemporary  minister  of  the  town, 
Elder  Isaac  Townsend,  were  some  striking  similarities  and  some 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  303 

equally  marked  differences.  The  father  of  each  was  named 
Ebenezer,  and  each  had  a  son  of  the  same  name.  There  was 
scarcely  a  twelvemonth's  difference  in  the  time  of  their  coming 
to  Wolfeborough.  Each  was  ordained  the  same  day,  and  mar- 
ried within  the  same  year,  although  one  was  a  first  and  the  other 
a  second  marriage.  The  wives  of  both  were  much  their  juniors, 
and  survived  them.  The  farm  of  each  was  located  on  the  borders 
of  the  same  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  Lake  Wentworth,  Mr. 
Allen's  being  situated  on  the  northwest  and  Mr.  Townsend's  on 
the  southeast  shore,  distant  from  each  other  about  six  miles  by 
land  and  three  by  water. 

These  were  the  differences :  Mr.  Allen  was  physically  disabled 
by  the  loss  of  his  arm,  while  Mr.  Townsend  was  a  vigorous 
athlete ;  the  former  received  a  collegiate  training,  the  latter  was 
uneducated ;  in  doctrine  the  one  taught  election,  the  other  free 
grace ;  in  respect  to  the  support  of  the  ministry,  the  absorbing 
question  in  Wolfeborough  in  their  day,  one  claimed  that  it  was 
the  province  of  the  parish  to  provide  a  living  for  the  pastor,  even 
if  it  required  coercive  taxation,  the  other  held  that  the  minister 
should  depend  on  the  freewill  offerings  of  his  people  and  his  own 
personal  efforts ;  Mr.  Allen  at  his  death  left  six  orphan  children 
under  ten  years  of  age  ;  Mr.  Townsend  died  childless.  It  is  evi- 
dent that  between  the  two  men  the  most  cordial  relations  existed, 
Mr.  Allen  officiating  at  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Townsend. 

Isaac  Townsend  was  born  in  New  Market,  N.  H.,  March  18, 
1756.  He  was  early  left  an  orphan,  his  father,  a  New  Light 
preacher,  dying  when  he  was  four  years  old,  and  his  step-mother 
two  years  later.  He  then  became  for  several  years  a  member  of 
the  family  of  William  Glidden,  a  brother  of  his  step-mother.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  he  bound  himself  an  apprentice  to  John  Tucker, 
of  Berwick,  Maine,  a  shoemaker  and  tanner,  and  there  remained 
until  he  reached  his  majority.  It  was  then  the  time  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary War,  and  he  enlisted  on  board  the  privateer  Portsmouth. 
When  five  days  out,  this  vessel  was  captured  by  the  Experiment, 


304 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


a  British  fifty-gun  ship,  which  took  its  prisoners  to  Halifax. 
There  he  remained  several  months  before  his  release,  which  he  al- 
ways regarded  as  providential.  One  day,  while  assisting  in  the 
burial  of  a  fellow-prisoner,  he  was  so  greatly  shocked  by  the  pro- 
fanity and  brutality  of  the  soldier  having  the  matter  in  charge  that 
he  prayed  very  earnestly,  though  silently,  that  he  might  soon  be 
set  at  liberty  and  sent  home.  That  night  he  dreamed  that  one 
came  to  him,  assuring  him  that  he  would  soon  be  released,  and 
predicting  to  him  some  of  the  events  of  his  future  life,  which  ulti- 
mately did  happen.  The  following  morning  he  related  his  dream 
to  his  companions,  and  very  confidently  declared  his  conviction 
that  it  would  be  fulfilled,  but  they  only  ridiculed  him. 

A  few  days  after,  a  vessel  appeared  in  the  offing;  this  he  de- 
clared would  take  him  home,  but  he  was  told  that  his  release  was 
very  improbable,  as,  even  if  the  approaching  vessel  should  prove 
to  be  a  cartel,  prisoners  who  had  been  held  much  longer  than  he 
would  be  first  exchanged.  He,  however,  was  so  confident,  that 
he  was  to  leave  the  place  that  he  distributed  the  small  sum  of 
money  which  he  possessed  among  his  associates,  and  prepared 
for  his  departure. 

The  vessel  proved  to  be  a  cartel,  and  the  proper  officers  pro- 
ceeded to  an  exchange  of  prisoners.  The  English  prisoners  had 
been  delivered  and  the  American  selected ;  Townsend  was  not 
among  them.  When  the  transfer  of  prisoners  was  nearly  com- 
pleted, it  was  discovered  that  a  miscount  had  been  made ;  two 
more  Americans  were  wanting  to  fill  the  complement.  The  offi- 
cers who  had  charge  of  the  business,  observing  Townsend,  who 
was  standing  near,  called  him,  took  his  name,  and  directed  him  to 
go  aboard  the  cartel.  While  on  his  passage  home,  he  was  at- 
tacked with  smallpox,  and  afterwards  with  fever  and  ague.  He 
was  much  reduced  by  these  diseases,  and  was  confined  at  the  hos- 
pital in  Boston  Harbor  for  some  time. 

When  he  had  partially  recovered,  he  set  out  for  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  in  the  course  of  a  few  months  took  up  his  residence  in 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  305 

the  first  division  of  New  Durham.  Here,  in  1779,  he  married 
Experience  Allard  of  that  town,  who  died  in  Wolfeborough  in 
1795.  Soon  after  his  marriage  he  removed  to  the  second  division 
of  New  Durham,  and  commenced  clearing  land,  remaining  there 
until  1791,  when  he  came  to  Wolfeborough,  and  purchased  of 
Enoch  Thomas  the  farm  now  owned  by  George  W.  Bassett  and 
John  L.  Wiggin.  This  some  years  after  he  exchanged  with 
Samuel  Fox  for  one  in  Pleasant  Valley,  where  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  In  1796  he  married  Lydia  Evans.  They  had 
one  son,  who  died  when  about  twelve  years  old. 

Mr.  Townsend  began  to  preach  while  living  in  New  Durham, 
but  was  not  a  pastor  until  he  came  to  Wolfeborough.  He  held 
that  relation  to  the  First  Freewill  Baptist  Church  in  Wolfe- 
borough  for  about  forty-five  years,  and  was  nominally  such  from 
the  time  of  his  ordination  until  his  death,  nearly  fifty-four  years. 
His  ministerial  labors  were  mostly  confined  to  the  towns  in  which 
he  lived,  although  he  traveled  a  little  in  other  towns.  By  industry 
and  frugality  he  acquired  a  fair  property,  the  most  of  which  he 
bequeathed  for  religious  and  benevolent  purposes. 

Mr.  Townsend's  school  advantages  were  very  limited,  yet  he 
became  quite  an  acceptable  public  speaker,  being  very  con- 
versant with  the  Scriptures.  After  some  years  of  illness  he  died 
August  30,  1846,  lacking  about  four  months  of  being  ninety  years 
old.  His  remains  were,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  interred  in  a 
burial-place  which  he  had  reserved  on  his  home  farm.  They 
have,  within  a  few  years  been  removed  to  the  cemetery  on  North 
Main  Street.  The  lot  in  which  he  and  his  entire  family  are  buried 
was  donated  by  him,  while  owning  the  Enoch  Thomas  farm,  to 
the  Freewill  Baptist  Society  as  a  place  for  burial.  The  society, 
however,  never  claimed  it,  as,  after  Mr.  Townsend  removed  from 
the  neighborhood,  few  of  his  adherents  located  there. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

CHURCHES  AND  OTHER  RELIGIOUS  ORGANIZATIONS — FIRST 
CHURCH  ORGANIZED — CHRISTIAN  CHURCHES  ESTABLISHED 
IN  1812  AND  1822 — CO-WORKERS  FERNALD  AND  TOWNSEND 

AND    THEIR     FOLLOWERS  —  STEPHEN     COFFIN ALLEN'S 

CHURCH — JOHN  P.  CLEVELAND — THE  FIRST  SUNDAY- 
SCHOOL — THE  ACADEMY  CHAPEL  FINISHED — THOMAS  P. 
BEACH — DR.  JEREMIAH  BLAKE — THE  METHODISTS — THE 
FRIENDS — THE  UNIVERSALISTS — THE  UNITARIANS — THE 
ADVENTISTS — THE  CATHOLICS — LOCATION  OF  CHURCHES. 

THE  first  church  organized  in  Wolfeborough  was  the  Freewill 
Baptist.  Its  organization  took  place  on  the  nineteenth  day  of 
October,  1792,  at  the  house  of  William JRogers  in  the  following 
manner :  A  committee  from  the  New  Durham  church,  the  first 
one  of  the  order,  with  its  pastor,  Elder  Benjamin  Randall,  founder 
of  the  Freewill  Baptist  denomination,  appeared  at  the  place  by 
appointment.  After  introductory  religious  services  a  missive  let- 
ter from  the  church  in  New  Durham  to  the  persons  assembled 
was  read  by  Elder  Randall.  It  contained  the  covenant  and  rules 
of  government  of  that  church.  The  committee  was  then  invited 
to  assist  in  embodying  a  church  of  the  persons  presenting  them- 
selves for  that  purpose.  John  Sn>ell  related  his  religious  experi- 
ence, and  was  baptized  by  Elder  Randall.  Mr.  Snell,  though 
never  formally  acknowledged  as  a  minister,  preached  consid- 
erably. He  was  the  grandfather  of  John  L.  Wiggin,  of  this  town. 
The  persons  assembled,  Isaac  Townsend,  Benjamin  Libbey,  Wil- 
liam Rust,  Jesse  Whitten,  John  Snell,  Thomas  Chase,  Experience 
Townsend,  and  Tabitha  Chase,  then  adopted  by  vote  and  sub- 
scription this 
306 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUQH.  307 

COVENANT. 

"We  whose  names  are  here  underwritten,  feeling  the  spirit  of 
adoption  whereby  we  cry  'Abba  Father'  though  most  unworthy, 
and  by  his  grace  having  a  fellowship  with  each  other  as  brethren 
of  one  family  and  children  of  one  Feather,  finding  our  souls  knit 
together  like  David  and  Jonathan,  Ruth  and  Naomi — believing 
it  for  the  declarative  glory  of  God,  our  Heavenly  Father,  that  we 
should  embody  and  walk  in  the  ordinances  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ :  do  now,  in  this  solemn  manner,  in  the  fear  of  God,  calling 
on  him  for  his  aid  and  assistance,  covenant  together  and  promise, 
by  grace,  to  walk  in  the  ordinances  and  commands  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  as  we  do  or  shall  understand.  We  will  take  the 
Scriptures  of  truth,  which  we  believe  to  be  an  unerring  rule,  for 
the  rule  of  our  practice  in  our  conversation,  dealing,  and  com- 
merce ;  and  if  any  of  us  are  convicted  of  not  walking  according 
thereto,  or  of  violating  thereof,  we  shall  be  deemed  disorderly, 
and  be  dealt  with  as  such,  as  the  aforesaid  rule  shall  direct." 

At  the  same  time  ten  persons  joined  with  the  eight  members 
of  the  church  in  declaring  themselves  members  of  a  Baptist  Soci- 
ety. On  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  the  month  Mr.  Townsend  was 
ordained.  November  eighth  a  monthly  meeting  was  held  at  the 
house  of  Isaac  Townsend,  and  William  Lucas  and  Mary  Rogers 
related  their  experience  for  baptism.  Three  days  later  the  rite 
was  administered  by  Elder  Townsend,  and  they  became  members 
of  the  church.  On  the  twenty-third  day  of  the  month  the  Lord's 
Supper  was  celebrated.  A  monthly  meeting  was  established,  be- 
ing held  either  at  the  dwelling  of  Elder  Townsend  or  that  of  Wil- 
liam Rogers.  William  Lucas  was  chosen  clerk  of  the  church, 
probably  holding  the  office  until  1797,  when  Israel  Piper  suc- 
ceeded him.  About  this  time  some  steps  were  taken  to  raise 
money  for  what  was  termed  a  church  stock,  to  meet  emergencies. 
Israel  Piper  was  appointed  treasurer.  Of  the  small  sum  raised 
Elder  Townsend  received  the  principal  part. 

Eor  some  years  the  records  of  the  church  were  quite  imperfect. 


3o8 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


During  the  decade  following  its  organization  it  appears  that 
Townsend  preached  quite  regularly,  and  that  the  monthly  meet- 
ings were  usually  held,  though  varying  considerably  in  interest. 
The  number  of  persons  who  became  members  of  the  church  dur- 
ing that  period  cannot  be  exactly  determined,  but  it  was  evidently 
quite  small.  In  1804  Israel  Piper  was  succeeded  as  clerk  by  Neal 

Gate. 

. 
About  1800  there  seems  to  have  been  increased  interest  in  that 

portion  of  the  church  located  in  the  easterly  part  of  the  town.  At 
a  monthly  meeting  held  August  13,  1801,  Valentine  Wormwood 
was  chosen  deacon,  and  it  was  voted  to  build  a  meeting-house, 
the  Baptists  and  Methodists  uniting  in  the  undertaking.  The 
building  committee  consisted  of  Thomas  Cotton,  John  Snell, 
Valentine  Wormwood,  Charles  Stanton,  and  Josiah_  Allen,  resi- 
dents of  Brookfield  and  Wolfeborough.  It  was  erected  on  the 
border-line  between  the  two  towns.  There  it  remained  until  about 
1850,  when  it  was  replaced  by  another  of  more  modern  style,  but 
constructed  by  similar  joint  action  of  the  same  societies. 

From  the  death  of  Mr.  Allen  in  1806,  for  nearly  or  quite  thirty 
years  Mr.  Townsend  was  the  only  resident  ordained  minister  in 
the  town,  and  for  a  short  period  the  Baptist  was  the  only  church 
organization.  Preachers  of  different  denominations  bestowed 
some  labor  on  the  town,  but  did  not  settle  as  pastors.  Mr.  Town- 
send  depended  almost  entirely  upon  his  own  manual  labor  for 
his  support,  and  consequently  could  do  little  more  than  attend 
to  the  most  pressing  calls  of  the  ministerial  office. 

May  25,  1793,  Susannah  Lucas  was  baptized  and  united  with 
the  church,  and  between  that  date  and  the  year  1800  Isaac  Jones, 
Polly  Jones,  Stephen  Fall,  Jonathan  Brown,  Israel  Piper,  and 
Lydia  Allard  became  members.  There  was  more  than  usual 
religious  interest  in  the  community  near  the  beginning  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  and  Reuben  Daniells,  Richard  Marden,  Xeal 
Cale,  John  Lary,  Isaac  Willey,  Valentine  Wormwood,  Thomas 
Cotton,  Josiah  Willey,  Thomas  Frost,  Jane  Cate,  Lydia  Town- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


309 


send,  Hannah  Whitten,  Susannah  Rust,  Sally  Willey,  Betsy 
Wormwood,  Dolly  Willey,  Charlotte  Clark,  Mary  Hawkins,  and 
Hannah  Clough  united  with  the  church. 

About  1811  Elder  Mark  Fernald,  of  Kittery,  Maine,  a  minister 
of  the  Christian  denomination,  visited  Wolfeborough.  He  had 
been  a  sailor,  but,  becoming-  religious,  commenced  preaching. 
Somewhat  eccentric,  with  a  rugged  eloquence  and  fearless  zeal,  he 
was  attractive  to  the  masses,  and  soon  had  a  large  following. 
Elder  Townsend  labored  in  accord  with  him,  and  their  combined 
efforts  resulted  in  the  profession  of  piety  by  a  large  number  of 
persons.  As  the  two  ministers  belonged  to  different  denomina- 
tions, it  was  deemed  advisable  to  baptize  the  converts  and  not 
connect  them  with  any  church  immediately.  In  1812  a  Christian 
Church  was  organized,  and  a  portion  of  the  baptized  persons 
united  with  it.  Others  joined  the  Baptists,  and  still  others  did 
not  connect  themselves  w7ith  any  religious  organization.  In  1820 
the  Freewill  Baptist  Church  had  fifty  members,  in  1843  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty,  and  in  1900  ninety-seven. 

Until  about  1830  most  of  the  ministerial  work  clone  in  Wolfe- 
borough  outside  the  limits  of  Smith's  Bridge  village  was  by 
Elders  Fernald  and  Townsend.  The  town  meeting-house  was 
free  to  any  minister  of  the  Gospel,  and  these  two  clergymen  or 
their  occasional  co-adjutors  usually  occupied  it  in  the  warm 
season.  Whoever  might  speak  from  the  pulpit,  the  pews  held 
the  same  audience.  With  a  few  of  the  ministers  of  the  Christian 
and  Freewill  PJaptist  denominations  in  Wolfeborough  and  its 
vicinity,  there  was  some  difference  of  opinions,  but  not  very 
marked.  The  laity  were  essentially  one  in  faith  and  practice. 
Elder  John  T.  G.  Colby,  who  was  for  nearly  thirty  years  pastor  of 
the  Christian  Churches  in  Wolfeborough  said,  ''The  two  denomi- 
nations should  have  been  one."  Elder  Mark  Fernald,  in  his 
memoirs,  says  of  a  meeting  which  lie  attended  in  Wolfeborough, 
July  4,  1847,  "I"  monthly  conference  at  a  neighborhood  where 
the  Christian  and  Freewill  Baptist  brethren  held  their  conference 


3io 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


together,  twenty-eight  persons  spoke,  and  none  could  tell  who 
belonged  to  either  by  their  communications  or  spirit.  It  was 
good." 

About  1830  Hiram  Holmes  and  Jesse  Meader  came  to  Wolfe- 
borough,  and  held  many  meetings.  Meader  in  a  few  months 
went  to  Brookfield,  Holmes  remained  in  Wolfeborough  several 
years,  and  was  for  a  while  co-pastor  with  Elder  Townsend,  who 
had  become  very  infirm.  In  1833  he  identified  himself  with  the 
Second  Freewill  Baptist  Church,  which  was  at  that  time  set  off 
from  the  first  church  for  local  convenience.  John  Chick  after- 
wards became  the  pastor  of  the  old  church,  and  resided  in  Wolfe- 
borough  for  a  while. 

In  1840  the  present  church  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
about  one  thousand  dollars.  The  building  committee  consisted 
of  Robert  Wiggin,  Stephen  Coffin,  Daniel  Whitten,  Jesse  Whit- 
ten,  Jr.,  and  Stephen  S.  Bean.  It  was  dedicated  in  the  autumn 
of  the  same  year,  Elder  Daniel  P.  Cilley,  of  Pittsfield,  preaching 
on  the  occasion,  and  Elder  Mark  Fernald  and  other  ministers 
taking  part  in  the  dedicatory  exercises.  Its  interior  has  been 
several  times  remodeled,  and  in  1881  it  was  thoroughly  repaired 
by  an  assessment  upon  the  pew-owners.  In  1888  some  horse- 
sheds  near  the  church  were  burned,  and  the  rear  end  of  that 
building  damaged  by  fire.  Largely  through  the  efforts  of  the 
acting  pastor,  Rev.  Lincoln  Given,  an  endeavor  was  made  to 
essentially  change  the  structure  of  the  house.  The  Freewill  Bap- 
tist State  Mission  Society  pledged  conditionally  for  that  purpose 
three  hundred  dollars,  and  gifts  to  the  amount  of  more  than  one 
hundred  dollars  were  contributed  by  sundry  persons.  The  balance 
of  about  eighteen  hundred  dollars  was  donated  by  the  proprietors 
of  the  house  and  the  friends  of  the  society.  A  bell  tower  with  an 
entry  was  erected  at  the  front  of  the  main  building  and  a  vestry  at 
the  rear;  the  audience-room  was  somewhat  enlarged,  and  other 
changes  made  without  incurring  any  debt.  About  1857  a  row  of 
maple  trees  was  set  around  the  meeting-house  lot  by  Rev.  Levi 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  311 

Brackett,  Daniel  Whitten,  and  B.  F.  Parker.  Vandalism  and  the 
elements  have  destroyed  all  but  two  of  them.  These  are  quite 
ornamental,  and  bear  the  names  of  the  two  deceased  planters, 
Brackett  and  Whitten. 

In  1841  a  Sunday  School  was  established,  and  B.  F.  Parker 
elected  superintendent.  The  school  had  eight  teachers,  fifty-seven 
members,  and  a  library  of  eighty  small  volumes.  In  1862  Alvah 
S.  Libbey  was  elected  superintendent,  but  soon  entered  the  army, 
and  B.  F.  Parker  was  again  placed  in  charge.  He  occupied  the 
position  about  five  years,  when  I.  B.  Manning  took  the  place,  and 
by  repeated  elections  filled  it  for  twenty-five  years.  The  present 
superintendent  is  Edwin  J.  Libbey. 

This  church  is,  by  twenty  years,  the  oldest  in  Wolfeborough, 
being  established  in  1792,  while  the  next  in  point  of  time  now 
existing  is  the  Christian  which  was  organized  in  1812.  It  has  had 
in  all  about  three  hundred  members. 

Here  is  a  list  of  the  ministers  licensed  or  ordained  while  they 
were  members  of  the  church.  John  Cooley  came  from  Ossipee, 
and  remained  in  town  but  a  few  years.  He  was  licensed  in  1832, 
and  ordained  in  1835.  Stephen  Coffin  came  from  Alton  at  middle 
age,  purchasing  the  farm  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Jethro  Furbur. 
He  became  religious  in  early  life,  and  frequently  held  public 
meetings.  He  was  so  fearful  of  sectarianism  that  he  did  not 
for  several  years  unite  with  any  church,  affiliating  mostly  with 
the  Christian  and  Freewill  Baptist  denominations,  although 
readily  fraternizing  with  any  other  religious  people.  After  resid- 
ing in  Wolfeborough  a  few  years,  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Freewill  Baptist  Church.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1840, 
and  ordained  in  1841.  He  continued  evangelical  work  a  part  of 
the  time  until  old  age,  traveling  extensively  in  Maine  and  New 
Hampshire  and  considerably  in  Massachusetts.  He  was  neither 
erudite  nor  eloquent,  but  probably  benefited  humanity  more  than 
some  who  possessed  a  higher  order  of  cultivated  talent.  A  son 
of  his,  Lorenzo  S.  Coffin,  who  was  reared  in  Wolfeborough,  and 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

a  member  of  the  same  church  as  was  his  father,  is  now  a  resident 
of  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa.  He  is  a  thrifty  farmer,  and  has  been  con- 
siderably in  public  life,  holding  state  official  positions  in  the  in- 
terests of  agriculture  and  railroad  employees.  A  few  miles  from 
his  city  home  he  has  built  a  small  free  church,  in  which  he 
preaches. 

William  Kent  Lucas,  a  native  of  the  town,  was  a  person  of 
mediocre  talent,  but  of  strict  integrity  and  fervid  piety.  Licensed 
in  1841  and  ordained  in  1842,  he  became  a  pastor  of  the  Second 
Freewill  Baptist  Church  in  Wolfeborough.  He  was  an  invalid 
much  of  his  life,  yet  lived  to  be  an  octogenarian. 

Jonathan  McDuffee  Brewster,  a  nephew  of  John  Brewster, 
Wolfeborough's  liberal  benefactor,  was  reared  in  Wolfeborough. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Wolfeborough  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing, and  ordained  after  his  removal  beyond  its  limits.  He  had 
a  collegiate  and  theological  training,  and  was  a  fine  scholar.  For 
several  years  he  was  assistant  editor  of  "The  Morning  Star," 
the  Freewill  Baptist  denominational  organ.  His  death  occurred 
several  years  ago,  while  pastor  of  a  church  in  Providence,  Rhode 
Island. 

J.  Frank  Lock  came  from  Ossipee.  He  was  licensed  while 
preaching  at  Wolfeborough,  and  ordained  after  he  left  the  town. 

Elder  Cummins  Paris  was  born  in  Tunbridge,  Vt.,  September 
24,  1810.  being  the  son  of  Levi  Samuel  Paris.  For  more  than  a 
half-century  Flder  Paris  lived  and  wrought  in  Wolfeborough,  and 
no  man  had  more  or  stauncher  friends.  In  his  prime  he  was  a 
strong  force  in  the  Free  Baptist  denomination,  but  his  ministra- 
tion? were  not  confined  to  the  members  of  that  faith.  He  was 
the  mentor  and  comforter  of  all  who  came  within  the  influence 
of  his  strong  personality. 

Mr.  Paris  had  no  early  educational  advantages.  He  was 
"bound  out"  to  a  farmer  at  the  age  of  five  years,  with  whom  lie 
remained  until  he  was  eighteen.  He  then  went  to  Lowell,  worked 
for  a  time  on  the  old  Middlesex  canal,  and  was  there  when  the 


ELDER    CUMMINS    PARIS 


,  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  313 

first  railroad  in  New  England  was  built.  About  this  time  he  first 
became  interested  in  religious  matters,  and  decided  to  obtain  an 
education  if  possible. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  married  Miss  Eliza  Martin,  of 
Springfield,  N.  H.,  and  then  moved  to  Strafford,  where  he  at- 
tended school.  Up  to  this  time  he  was  unable  to  either  read  or 
write.  One  of  his  classmates  here  was  Eleazer  D.  Barker,  of 
Wolfeborough.  After  fitting  himself  in  the  Strafford  schools,  he 
took  a  theological  course  at  the  Parsonsfield  (Me.)  Seminary. 
He  was  also  a  member  of  the  first  Biblical  school  of  the  Free 
Baptist  denomination. 

His  first  parish  was  at  Eaton  in  1841,  then  Alexandria,  where 
he  was  very  successful  until  his  pronounced  abolitionist  views 
lessened  his  popularity.  He  then  preached  at  Andover,  Wake- 
field,  and  Ossipee,  and  for  ten  years  occupied  the  pulpit  of  the 
Wolfeborough  Falls  church. 

Elder  Paris  was  always  the  student.  After  retiring  from  active 
pastoral  duties, he  kept  pace  with  the  advance  in  religious  thought, 
and  urtil  failing  powers  darkened  his  mental  vision,  was  one  of 
the  prcfoundest  thinkers  Wolfeborough  has  ever  known.  His 
death,  which  occurred  July  4,  1898,  was  soon  followed  by  that  of 
his  devoted  wife,  who  had,  during  all  the  years  of  their  long 
wedded  life,  been  more  than  a  helpmeet  to  him. 

The  pastors  and  stated  ministers  of  the  church  following  John 
Chick  have  been  Enoch  T.  Prescott.  Oliver  Butler.  Cumins  Paris, 
Henry  F.  Snow.  Silas  F.  Bean,  Tobias  Foss.  Uriah  Chase, 
Flbridge  G.  York,  O.  F.  Russell.  J.  Frank  Lock,  H.  F.  Dickey. 
G.  C.  Andrews,  A.  D.  Fairbanks,  Daniel  Wheeler,  Ira  Emery, 
C.  L.  Plummer,  H.  B.  Fluntoon,  Lincoln  Given,  A.  H.  Milliken, 
F.  E.  Carver,  and  A.  M.  Freeman.  The  deacons  have  been 
Thomas  Chase,  Valentine  Wormwood,  Thomas  Cotton,  Peltiah 
Lord,  Hamilton  Locke,  Benjamin  F.  Parker,  Samuel  W.  Teth- 
erly,  and  Edward  J.  Libbey ;  and  the  clerks,  Isaac  Townsend, 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

William  Lucas,  Israel  Piper,  Neal  Cate,  Hiram  Holmes,  Daniel 
Whitten,  Hamilton  Lock,  and  Benjamin  F.  Parker. 

On  the  two  absorbing  moral  questions  of  the  last  half-century — 
abolition  and  temperance — this  church  has  generally  occupied 
an  advanced  position.  Its  doors  have  opened  to  the  advocates 
of  either  of  these  causes,  even  when  it  was  at  some  sacrifice.  In 
1842  a  resolution  was  passed  disapproving  of  the  use  of  intoxi- 
cants, and  thenceforth  only  unfermented  liquors  were  brought 
to  the  communion  table.  In  1848  a  new  covenant  was  adopted 
which  forbade  the  use  of  distilled  liquors  by  members  of  the 
church. 

October  25,  1792,  on  the  day  of  Mr.  Allen's  ordination,  and 
six  days  after  the  organization  of  the  Freewill  Baptist  Church,  a 
Congregational  Church  was  organized  in  the  presence  of  the 
ordaining  council.  Here  is  an  extract  from  its  constitution 
adopted  at  the  time : — 

"Persons  who  believe  the  Christian  religion,  and  in  the  judg- 
ment of  charity  lead  moral  lives,  shall,  on  professing  their  faith, 
and  promising  obedience,  be  entitled  to  baptism,  either  for  them- 
selves or  their  children,  provided  that  none  shall  be  entitled  to 
baptism  for  their  children  w?ho  shall  not  have  been  previously 
baptized  themselves. — who  shall  not  also  promise  to  bring  up 
such  children  in  the  nature  and  admonition  of  the  Lord,  to  teach 
them  their  duty,  and  display  before  them  in  their  own  conduct 
examples  of  piety  and  virtue." 

The  following  persons  signed  this  constitution  :  Joshua  Haines, 
Henry  Rust,  Ithiel  Clifford,  John  Shortridge,  Samuel  Tibbetts, 
William  Cotton,  Andrew  Wiggin,  and  Jacob  Smith.  Afterwards 
the  following  members  were  added  to  the  church:  in  1/93,  Sarah 
Martin,  Hannah  Martin,  William  Warren,  Phcebe  Young,  Han- 
nah Rust,  Hannah  Horn,  and  Deborah  Folsom  ;  in  1794,  James 
Fernald,  Mary  Horn,  and  Abigail  Shortridge ;  in  1796,  Anna 
Young;  in  1798,  Betsy  Allen  and  Margaret  Shortridge;  in  1799, 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  3^ 

Benjamin  Nuclei  and  Mary  Chamberlin ;  in  1800,  Martha  Adams; 
in  1801,  Elizabeth  Stoddard  and  Lucy  Keniston.  The  year  fol- 
lowing the  organization  of  the  church  Henry  Rust  and  Andrew 
Wiggin  were  appointed  deacons. 

The  records  of  the  church  having  been  accidently  destroyed, 
a  reliable  history  of  it  has  not  been  preserved.  During  Mr. 
Allen's  lifetime  it  probably  fairly  prospered.  After  his  death 
nothing  of  its  doings  is  known,  and  it  probably  ceased  to  be  an 
effective  organization.  Occasionally,  but  very  rarely,  Congre- 
gational ministers  visited  the  town  and  preached.  Among  them 
was  Curtis  Coe,  of  Durham,  and  a  Mr.  Grey,  of  Dover. 

The  Christian  denomination  had  its  origin  at  about  the  same 
time  as  did  the  Methodist  and  Freewill  Baptist.  Its  founders, 
prominent  among  whom  was  Elias  Smith,  purposed  to  bring 
about  a  union  of  all  the  followers  of  Christ ;  and  hence  adopted 
no  elaborate  system  of  rules  or  theoretical  tenets,  but  allowed  its 
members  their  own  individual  interpretation  of  Scripture.  To 
believe  in  Christ  and  practice  His  precepts  as  personally  under- 
stood was  all  that  was  required  of  them.  As  did  the  early  Metho- 
dists, they  generally  practised  immersion,  and  this  has  occa- 
sioned the  adjunct  "Baptist"  to  be  sometimes  attached  to  their 
name,  but  they  have  never  adopted  and  do  not  now  acknowledge 
it.  With  their  avowed  object,  the  union  of  all  religious  sects, 
there  was  some  propriety  in  applying  the  general  term  Christian 
to  a  particular  body  of  believers.  Yet  it  at  first  occasioned  some 
criticism,  which,  however,  was  not  of  long  duration.  Elder  Fer- 
nald,  though  quite  liberal,  had  his  preferences,  and  held  tena- 
ciously to  the  name  and  simple  form  of  organization  which  he 
adopted  in  establishing  churches. 

The  First  Christian  Church  in  Wolfeborough  was  organized 
January  3,  1812.  Its  members  at  the  organization  were  George 
Yeaton,  Levi  Mason,  Polly  Clifford,  Eleanor  Rust,  Betsy  Keay, 
and  Hannah  Doe.  The  following  persons  were  soon  added  to  its 


316  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

membership :  Bradstreet  Doe,  Sally  Pinkham,  Nathaniel  Rust, 
Martha  Thurston,  Pamelia  Welsh,  Elizabeth  Banfield,  Joseph 
Leavitt,  Phebe  Leavitt,  William  Gate,  Betsy  Gate,  Abigail  Tib- 
betts,  Ann  Dealing,  and  Mary  F.  Warren. 

Elder  Mark  Fernald  was  pastor  of  the  church  until  1838,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  Elder  John  T.  G.  Colby,  a  native  of  Ossipee. 
Mr.  Colby  spent  most  of  his  active  ministerial  life  in  Wolfe- 
borough  as  pastor  of  one  or  the  other  of  the  two  Christian 
Churches  in  the  town.  He  owned  and  occupied  for  about  twenty 
years  a  small  farm  situated  near  Randall's  Corner.  He  was  not 
a  remarkably  eloquent  preacher,  yet  was  quite  acceptable  as  a 
public  speaker — a  truly  good  and  useful  man.  In  advanced  age 
he  removed  to  Dover.  There  being  no  church  of  the  Christian 
denomination  in  that  town,  he  united  with  the  Freewill  Baptists. 

As  has  already  been  intimated,  the  more  common  place  of 
holding  Sabbath  meetings  in  the  summer  was  the  town  meeting- 
house, but  upon  the  approach  of  cold  weather  schoolhouses  were 
utilized  for  that  purpose.  Among  those  thus  occupied  were  the 
"Wiggin,"  "below  the  Bridge,"  the  "Blake,"  "above  the  Bridge," 
by  the  Christians  ;  the  "Brick,"  located  near  the  present  site  of 
the  creamery,  by  the  Freewill  Baptists ;  the  "Rines"  and  the 
"Townsend,"  in  Pleasant  Valley,  by  the  Christians  and  Free- 
will Baptists.  George  O.  Cotton,  a  native  of  Wolfeborough  and 
a  local  Methodist  minister,  preached  at  the  Pine  Hill  schoolhouse 
every  fourth  Sabbath  for  nearly  a  score  of  years.  After  the 
erection  of  the  Academy  building  the  Congregationalists  wor- 
shipped in  that  until  their  meeting-house  was  built.  The  school- 
house  in  Pleasant  Valley,  formerly  the  "Townsend,"  has  been 
more  used  for  religious  worship  than  any  other  in  Wolfeborough, 
perhaps  than  all  others.  During  the  forties  several  meeting- 
houses were  built  in  different  neighborhoods,  which  took  the 
places  of  the  small,  inconvenient  schoolhouses.  As  none  was 
erected  in  Pleasant  Vallev,  the  continued  occupancy  of  that 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  317 

schoolhouse  was  necessary.  It  has  been  enlarged,  and  is  still 
used  for  religious  meetings. 

Elder  Fernald  was  a  hardy,  athletic  man,  and  an  indefatigable 
worker.  This  is  evident  from  his  manner  of  life.  His  home  was 
in  Kittery,  Maine,  yet  he  itinerated  much  in  Wolfeborough,  Tuf- 
tonborough,  Ossipee,  and  other  adjacent  towns,  visiting  them 
several  times  a  year.  Sometimes  he  would  arrive  at  Wolfeborough 
past  the  mid-day  hour,  unannounced,  stopping  as  usual  at  the 
house  of  Deacon  John  Folsom,  whose  wife,  the  energetic  Hannah, 
would  soon  have  her  son  Blake  on  the  road  with  this  verbal 
message :  "Elder  Fernald  will  preach  at  the  schoolhouse  to- 
night at  early  candle-light."  In  a  district  two  or  three  miles  in 
extent,  implements  of  labor  would  be  seasonably  laid  aside,  and 
at  the  appointed  hour  the  schoolhouse  would  be  filled  with 
people  eager  to  hear  the  messages  of  love  and  good  counsel 
which  the  minister  had  brought  in  his  head  and  his  heart — not 
in  his  pocket. 

In  1838  the  Christian  Society  erected  a  meeting-house,  locating 
it  where  now  stands  the  residence  of  Augustine  A.  Fullerton. 
It  was  dedicated  September  25,  1838.  This  house  was  con- 
veniently located  at  the  time  of  its  erection,  was  for  years  well- 
filled,  and  in  it  have  been  witnessed  scenes  of  greater  religious 
enthusiasm  than  in  any  other  in  the  town.  But  time  makes 
changes  in  most  human  affairs,  and  the  period  arrived  when  it 
was  deemed  advisable  to  establish  the  headquarters  of  the  Chris- 
tian Society  at  the  Bridge  village.  In  1858  this  house  was  taken 
down,  and  one  erected  at  the  village  below  at  a  cost  of  fifteen 
hundred  dollars.  The  first  meeting-house  was  built  by  Joseph 
Edmonds,  probably  at  some  personal  sacrifice.  He  and  a  few  of 
his  neighbors  were  not  pleased  with  its  demolition,  and  did  not 
follow  the  main  body  of  worshippers  to  the  village.  The  act  of 
removal  was  undoubtedly  politic  for  the  society.  In  1892  an 
addition  was  made  to  the  new  church  building  at  a  cost  of  one 
thousand  dollars. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


The  pastors  of  the  First  Christian  Church,  since  John  T.  G. 
Colby,  have  been  Thomas  Bartlett,  Seth  Hinckley,  William  H. 
Nason,  James  Rowell,  Lewis  Phillips,  Samuel  B.  Bovvditch,  Lewis 
Phillips,  Charles  P.  Smith,  Lewis  Phillips,  L.  H.  Phillips,  Thomas 
S.  Weeks,  Manford  D.  Wolfe,  Prentice  A.  Canada,  E.  R.  McCord 
and  —  -  Hornbaker.  Its  deacons  have  been  Nathaniel  Rust, 
John  Folsom,  David  Blake,  James  Home,  Enoch  Haley,  Benja- 
min Morrison,  Jacob  P.  Garland,  Joshua  Richardson  ;  and  its 
clerks,  Daniel  A.  Wiggin,  David  Blake,  Charles  G.  Tebbetts,  A. 
A.  Fullerton,  William  Rogers.  There  have  been  about  three 
hundred  persons  connected  with  the  church,  and  its  members  now 
number  about  seventy-five. 

In  the  spring  of  1840  a  remarkable  religious  interest  prevailed 
in  the  church  and  society.  On  the  third  day  of  May  thirty-six 
persons  received  the  rite  of  baptism.  In  1844  ten  persons  left 
the  church,  assigning  these  reasons  :  "First,  we  consider  all  the 
nominal  churches  Babylon,  and  are  commanded  to  come  out 
(see  Rev.  28:  4);  secondly,  we  view  ourselves  as  unequally 
yoked  together  with  unbelievers,  and  that  the  time  has  arrived 
for  these  bonds  to  be  broken  (see  2  Cor.  6:  14  —  17)  ;  thirdly, 
we  believe  that  on  the  tenth  day  of  the  seventh  month,  which  is 
either  the  twenty-second  or  twenty-third  of  October,  that  this 
world  will  be  on  fire,  and  Babylon  will  be  destroyed." 

The  Second  Christian  Church  was  organized  January  10,  1822, 
at  the  house  of  John  Burley,  of  Ossipee,  by  Elder  Mark  Fernald. 
It  was  declared  to  be  "a.  church  of  Christ,  with  no  other  covenant 
than  the  name  of  Christ,  His  Spirit  and  word^to  unite  and  keep," 
of  the  society  called  "Christians."  Its  members  resided  in  the 
west  part  of  Ossipee  and  the  east  and  central  parts  of  Wolfe- 
borough.  The  charter  members  of  the  church  were  Benjamin 
Prebble,  George  Stevens,  Valentine  Willey,  Dudley  Chamberlin, 
Stephen  Burke,  Polly  Prebble.  Sally  Hyde.  Margaret  Hyde, 
Betsy  Smith,  Abigail  Willey,  Catherine  Tebbetts,  Jemima  Triggs. 
A  few  months  later  Joanna  Chamberlin.  Abigail  Chamberlin, 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


319 


and  Mahala  Judkins  were  admitted  as  members.  In  1850  over 
one  hundred  persons  had  united  with  the  church. 

Elder  Fernald  was  pastor  until  1826,  when  Joseph  Banfield, 
a  son  of  Tobias  Banfield,  succeeded  him.  Mr.  Banfield  had  a 
residence  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  town  meeting-house,  and 
became  locally  very  popular.  He  was  for  four  years  in  succession 
town  clerk.  In  1831  he  resigned  the  pastoral  office,  removed 
from  the  town,  and  united  with  another  denomination.  He  was 
the  father  of  the  late  Everett  C.  Banfield.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Elder  John  T.  G.  Colby.  About  1850  Elder  Samuel  Nutt  became 
resident  pastor  of  the  church.  Other  ministers  have  labored 
with  it  more  or  less.  In  later  years  Elder  Daniel  A.  Wiggin, 
of  Tuftonborough,  ministered  somewhat  to  its  religious  neces- 
sities. 

In  1841  a  union  church  building  was  erected  at  Wolfeborough 
Center  at  a  cost  of  about  eight  hundred  dollars.  A  majority  of 
the  pew-owners  gave  preference  to  the  Christian  denomination ; 
the  next  larger  share  favored  the  Freewill  Baptist.  Perfect  har- 
mony prevailed  in  the  construction  and  allotment  of  the  building. 
It  was  dedicated  November  n,  with  the  following  exercises: 
Invocation  by  Enos.  G.  Page,  Methodist ;  reading  of  the  Scrip- 
tures by  Jeremiah  Blake,  Congregationalist ;  reading  of  hymn 
by  Horace  Webber,  Freewill  Baptist ;  dedicatory  prayer  by  Paul 
Reynolds,  sermon  by  Mark  Fernald,  both  Christian  ;  concluding 
prayer  by  John  Chick,  Freewill  Baptist.  Fourteen  ministers  were 
present.  In  the  afternoon  Horace  Webber  preached.  The  house 
of  worship  is  still  in  good  repair,  but  the  population  of  the  region 
has  become  so  sparse  that  it  is  difficult  to  sustain  regular  religious 
services.  The  deacons  of  the  church  have  been  Valentine  Willey, 
Mark  A.  Young,  and  Frank  B.  Canney,  Mr.  Willey  acting  in  that 
capacity  for  about  half  a  century.  Mr.  Willey  also  served  as 
clerk  for  many  years.  A  union  Sunday  School  was  organized, 
and  flourished  for  some  years. 

In  1833  fifteen  members  of  the  First  Freewill  Baptist  Church 


320 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


in  Wolfeborough  were  set  off  from  that  body  that  they  might  be 
organized  into  another  of  the  same  denomination.  For  a  few 
years  the  church  made  but  little  gain.  After  that  for  about  two 
decades  it  was  fairly  prosperous,  having  in  1845  seventy  mem- 
bers ;  it  has  now  about  half  a  score.  It  is  located  in  the  easterly 
part  of  Wolfeborough,  where  the  population,  always  sparse,  is 
now  much  less  than  formerly. 

The  Methodists  and  Baptists  in  the  neighborhood  have  always 
affiliated.  At  the  present  time  a  Methodist  preacher  ministers 
to  a  small  congregation  on  the  Sabbath  in  connection  with  ser- 
vices at  other  localities.  The  pastors  of  the  church  have  been 
Hiram  Holmes,  John  C.  Holmes,  and  for  many  years,  William 
K.  Lucas.  Other  ministers  have  preached  for  it  at  different 
times,  but  have  not  been  pastors.  Its  deacons  have  been  Valen- 
tine Wormwood,  Thomas  Cotton,  Thomas  Cotton,  Jr.,  Timothy 
Y.  Cotton,  and  George  Gage.  Hiram  Holmes,  John  F.  Cotton, 
and  Timothy  Y.  Cotton  have  been  its  clerks.  The  society  owns 
jointly  with  the  Methodists  a  good,  but  not  expensive,  house  of 
worship. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Allen  in  1806,  there  is  no  record  of 
preaching  by  Congregationalists  until  1820,  although  it  seems 
quite  piobable  that  occasionally  a  minister  cf  that  order  might 
visit  the  town.  There  was  no  place  for  public  gatherings  where 
now  the  compact  part  of  Wolfeborough  village  is  previous  to 
1820.  The  nearest  place  south  of  Smith's  River  was  the  Wip'gin 
schoolhouse,  about  one  mile  distant.  Here  ministers  of  different 
persuasions  would  sometimes  preach,  and  probably  occasionally, 
though  rather  infrequently,  they  would  be  Congregationalists. 

In  the  autumn  of  1821  John  P.  Cleveland,  who  afterwards  be- 
came a  distinguished  clergyman,  commenced  teaching  at  the 
Academy.  He  preached  some,  and  in  1822  or  1823  established  a 
Sunday-school,  the  first  organized  in  the  town.  James  Towner 
followed  him  as  teacher;  he,  too,  was  a  preacher.  Some  other 
teachers  probably  conducted  religious  services. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


321 


In  the  summer  of  1827  the  upper  story  of  the  Academy  building  ^ 
was  finished  for  a  chapel  for  the  use  of  the  citizens  at  a  cost  of 
two  hundred  and  twenty-two  dollars,  Nathaniel  Rogers  being 
the  contractor.  Forty-three  pews  were  sold  at  prices  varying 
from  three  dollars  and  fifty  cents  to  seven  dollars  and  seventy- 
five  cents,  the  sum  realized  from  the  sale  being  two  hundred  and 
eighteen  dollars.  The  purchasers  of  pews  were :  George  Brew- 
ster,  Samuel  Connor,  David  T.  Livy,  Joseph  Clark,  Samuel 
Avery,  Benjamin  Tebbetts,  Daniel  Pickering,  Henry  B.  Rust, 
Thomas  Rust,  Henry  R.  Parker,  Luther  Varney,  Samuel  Fox, 
William  Guppy,  William  P.  Eagerly,  Joseph  Edmonds,  Henry 
Rust,  jr.,  Joshua  Connor,  Nathaniel  Rogers,  George  F.  Brewster, 
James  Downs,  Stephen  Giles,  Enos  Bean,  John  Horn,  Jeremiah 
Connor,  Samuel  Mearler,  David  Fullerton.  A  majority  of  the  pew- 
owners  were  Congregationalists,  and  ministers  of  that  denomina- 
tion generally  occupied  the  pulpit. 

June  17,  1834,  a  Congregational  Church  of  twelve  members 
was  organized.  Their  names  were  Benjamin  Young,  Rebecca 
Young,  Daniel  Pickering,  Sarah  C.  Pickering,  George  B.  Farrar, 
Susan  M.  Farrar,  Mehitable  J.  Farrar,  Eunice  Piper,  Abigail 
Connor,  Amy  W.  Connor,  Sarah  Meader,  Mary  Avery.  Within 
the  year  the  following  persons  united  with  the  church:  David 
T.  Livy,  Lucinda  P.  Livy,  Thomas  Rust,  Phoebe  C.  Rust,  John 
Fox,  Elizabeth  A.  Fox,  George  W.  Warren,  Calvin  Batchelder, 
George  R.  Mason,  Sarah  B.  P.  Mason,  Betsy  Warren,  Ann  E. 
Avery,  Eleanor  J.  Rogers,  Susan  Piper,  Annette  A.  Livy,  Har- 
riet Clark,  Charles  Duren,  Moses  Seavey.  Thomas  Parnell 
Beach,  preceptor  of  the  Academy,  was  chosen  pastor,  and  con- 
tinued to  serve  in  that  capacity  about  two  and  a  half  years. 
After  his  departure  some  students  from  Gilmanton  Theological 
Seminary  held  meetings  which  resulted  in  the  awakening  of  much 
religious  zeal.  Then  followed  Dr.  Jeremiah  Blake,  who  had 
been  for  some  years  a  practising  physician  in  Gilmanton,  but  had 
become  a  student  at  the  Theological  Seminary  in  that  town.  Hav- 


322 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


ing  completed  his  preparatory  studies,  he  came  to  Wolfeborough, 
and  November  i,  1838,  was  ordained  as  pastor  of  the  church.  He 
at  fiist  came  to  the  town  with  other  students,  and  to  use  his  own 
language,  says : — 

"My  mind  was  wonderfully  drawn  to  the  place.  For  a  long  time  I 
seemed  to  see  a  field  of  wheat  extending  from  .Moultonborough  to  Brook- 
field.  This  wheat  had  very  full  heads,  all  leaning  toward  the  east,  (and 
'white  for  the  harvest.'  This  field  was  before  me  by  day  and  by  night, 
and  the  feeling  was  very  strong  that  I  must  assist  in  reaping  it.  In  the 
winter  of  1839-40,  God  in  His  all-wise  providence  opened  the  way  for 
me  to  reap  this  field.  I  neld  a  meeting  in  Tuftonborough,  and  thus  began 
at  the  upper  end  of  the  field,  and  reaped  ,grain  as  it  leaned  to  the  east. 
The  good  work  soon  spread  through  Moultonborough,  Tuftonborough, 
and  then  into  Wolfeborough.  The, first  manifestations  here  were  at  the 
Bridge.  It  spread  to  Wolfeborough  Center,  the  farm  road,  and,  last,  to 
South  Wolfeborough.  This  revival  continued  almost  two  years.  By 
the  assistance  of  Deacons  Rust,  Fox,  Ayers,  and  others,  I  was  enabled 
to  labor  in  Tuftonborough,  North, Wolfeborough,  Alton,  Middleton,  Farm- 
ington,  Milton,  Wakefield,  Effingham,  Moultonborough,  Tamworth, 
Centre  Harbor,  and  Newfield,  Maine.  In  all  these  places  God  was  pour- 
ing out  his  Spirit.  The  field  of  wheat  was  now  reaped  and  laid  in  bundles 
to  be  bound  and  shocked.  As  fruits  of  this  revival, ,  a  Congregational 
church  was  formed  in  Tuftonborough,  and  another  in  North  Wolfeborough, 
and  a  .meeting-house  builded  there.  During  this  revival  all  denomina- 
tions were  united  as  the  heart  of  one  man,  and  converts  were  added  to 
each  of  them.  My  five  years  in  Wolfeborough  are  among  the  brightest 
spots  in  my  life." 

During  this  revival  a  series  of  meetings  was  held  at  the  town 
meeting-house.  This  was  the  only  time  that  the  building  was 
artificially  heated.  Stoves  were  set  up,  the  funnels  projecting 
through  the  windows. 

Dr.  Blake  was  not  very  learned  nor  very  eloquent,  but  he  was 
an  earnest  worker  and  could  read  men  as  well  as  books.  He 
accomplished  more  for  the  church  during  his  pastorate  than  any 
other  minister  it  ever  had,  sixty-one  members  being  added  to  it 
through  his  agency. 

Rev.  Jeffries  Hall  succeeded  Dr.  Blake  as  pastor,  having  at 
the  same  time  charge  of  the  Academy.  His  special  mission  ap- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  323 

pears  to  have  been  the  securing  of  a  house  of  worship  for  the 
church  so  much  enlarged  by  his  predecessor.  By  unflagging  zeal 
and  continued  earnest  labor,  which  he  extended  to  Massachusetts, 
he  accomplished  his  purpose,  and  on  the  twenty-sixth  day  of 
January,  1847,  nacl  tne  satisfaction  of  preaching  the  sermon  at 
the  dedicatory  exercises  of  an  edifice  costing  about  twelve 
hundred  dollars — the  resultant  product  of  his  own  personal  efforts 
and  the  friendly  action  of  near-by  and  more  distant  contribu- 
tors. 

The  successors  of  Rev.  Mr.  Hall  in  the  pastoral  office  have 
been  Nelson  Barbour,  Sumner  Clark,  John  Wood,  Leander 
Thompson,  Thomas  A.  Emerson,  Robert  B.  Hall,  George  H. 
Tilton,  Henry  Kctchem,  George  W.  Christie,  Joseph  A.  Tom- 
linson,  Theodore  C.  Jerome,  Edgar  F.  Davis,  Cecil  F.  Harper, 
Calvin  M.  Clark,  Richard  T.  Wilton,  and  Edgar  F.  Warren. 
Leander  Thompson,  whose  wife  was  Ann  Eliza,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Avery,  was  a  returned  missionary.  Under  the  adminis- 
tration of  Mr.  Emerson  the  church  building  was  repaired  and 
refurnished.  It  was  rededicated  Aug  4,  1872.  A  semi-centennial 
anniversary  of  the  organization  of  the  church  was  observed  June 
17,  1884.  Rev.  Jeremiah  Blake  gave  an  historical  address,  and 
Moses  T.  jCate  read  a  summary  of  its  history.  Rev.  Theodore 
C.  Jerome  and  three  of  his  children  were  mysteriously  drowned 
May  28,  1886,  about  one  mile  from  Wolfeborough  village  in 
Lake  Winnipesaukee.  The  deacons  of  the  church  have  been 
Thomas  Rust,  Joshua  P.  Avers,  Charles  F.  Parker,  Buel  C. 
Carter,  Nathaniel  H.  Scott,  and  Samuel  A.  Meader;  and  its 
clerks,  Thomas  Rust,  Moses  T.  Cate,  Alexander  H.  Durgin, 
Samuel  Avery,  and  Charles  S.  Phillips.  The  church  has  had 
about  three  hundred  members,  and  its  present  number  is  about 
one  hundred  and  twelve. 

The  Congregational  Church  at  North  Wolfeborough  was 
largely  one  of  the  results  of  the  Dr.  Blake  revival.  Some  thirty 
persons  in  the  neighborhood  were  converted  in  a  protracted 


3^4 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


meeting  held  in  April,  1839,  by  Dr.  Blake,  several  theological 
students  and  two  Methodist  ministers.  One  of  the  students, 
Robert  Fuller,  commenced  preaching  there.  June  13,  1829,  a 
church  was  organized  by  a  council  composed  of  Rev.  John  S. 
Winter  and  Deacon  Daniel  Smith,  of  the  church  in  Ossipee ;  Rev. 
Joshua  Dodge,  from  the  church  in  Moultonborough ;  Rev. 
Nathaniel  Barker,  from  the  church  in  Wakefield ;  Rev.  S.  H. 
Merrill,  from  the  church  in  Center  Harbor ;  Rev.  Giles  Leach 
and  Mr.  James  Fullerton,  from  Sandwich ;  Deacon  Thomas  Rust 
and  Deacon  John  Fox,  from  Wolfeborough  Bridge.  November 
13,  Thomas  J.  Tebbetts  and  Richard  Bickford  were  chosen 
deacons.  September  24,  1843,  RCV-  J-  Dodlt  was  installed  as 
pastor  of  the  church.  November  29,  1848,  his  pastoral  relation 
ceased,  and  at  the  end  of  one  year  Rev.  Stephen  Merrill,  a  native 
of  Conway,  became  pastor  and  continued  such  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  June,  1860.  Rev.  Horace  Wood  had  charge 
of  the  church  from  1863  to  1866,  preaching  one-half  the  time. 
Since  then,  the  church  has  not  had  a  resident  pastor,  but  has 
had  preaching  a  portion  of  the  time  by  theological  students. 
Thomas  L.  Whitton  has  served  as  deacon.  The  church  has  had 
in  all  fifty  members ;  the  present  number  is  nine.  The  population 
of  the  neighborhood  is  very  sparse,  and  very  few  persons  attend 
the  infrequent  meetings  of  worship. 

October  29,  1840,  a  union  church  building,  largely  owned  by 
Congregationalists,  was  dedicated,  Rev.  John  Winter,  of  Ossipee, 
making  the  dedicatory  prayer  and  Rev.  John  Mordough  preach- 
ing the  sermon.  The  lot  on  which  it  stands  was  deeded  by 
George  E.  Nudd  to  Richard  Bickford,  Aaron  Roberts,  Thomas 
J.  Tebbetts,  James  Young,  James  Bickford,  Samuel  Tebbetts, 
Richard  Nudd,  Ezra  Hardy,  and  Samuel  Nudd.  The  meeting- 
house had  a  narrow  escape  from  burning  a  few  years  after.  One 
Monday  forenoon  it  was  found  to  be  on  fire  on  the  inside.  The 
school,  which  was  in  session,  was  dismissed,  and  the  pupils  soon 
extinguished  the  fire  with  snow.  The  fire  probably  originated 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  325 

from  the  snuffed  wick  of  a  candle,  a  meeting  having  been  held 
in  the  church  the  previous  evening. 

The  Methodists  came  to  Wolfeborough  quite  early,  but  in 
small  numbers,  and  although  they  are  the  most  energetic  and 
successful  religious  people  in  the  United  States  in  extending 
their  church  bounds,  they  have  not  gained  much  foothold  in  the 
town,  probably  on  account  of  the  ground  being  fully  occupied  by 
other  denominations.  Colonel  William  Cotton  came  from  Ports- 
mouth in  1781.  He  had  previously  affiliated  with  the  Methodists, 
but  when  in  1792  a  Congregational  Church  was  organized,  he 
became  a  charter  member.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Allen,  when 
the  church  had  lost  its  visibility,  he  probably  resumed  his  relations 
with  his  former  religious  associates.  As  is  well  known,  his  home 
was  in  the  easterly  part  of  the  town,  and  thither  a  few  itinerating 
Methodist  preachers  occasionally  resorted.  The  Methodists  and 
their  immediate  neighbors,  the  Baptists,  were  very  fervid  wor- 
shippers, and  Christian  fellowship  so  prevailed  that  in  1801  they 
erected  a  union  meeting-house,  which  with  its  successor,  a  new 
structure,  has  to  this  time  sheltered  the  waning  remnants  of  the 
two  organizations.  The  Methodist  Church,  a  part  of  whose  mem- 
bers lived  within  the  limits  of  Brookfield,  numbered  in  its  palmy 
days  nearly  two  score  of  persons ;  its  membership  is  now  less 
than  one-fourth  that  number.  Elder  George  O.  Cotton,  a  grand- 
son of  the  Colonel,  was  for  nearly  half  a  century  a  local  Methodist 
preacher,  holding  meetings  in  schoolhouses. 

Several  families  of  Friends  took  up  their  abode  in  Wolfe- 
borough  soon  after  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  Among 
them  were  the  Varneys,  the  Bassetts,  and  the  Nowells.  Other 
families  affiliated  with  these,  and  to  some  extent  adopted  their 
views  and  practices.  About  1825  they  erected  a  small  meeting- 
house on  Varney's  Lane,  now  Friend  Street,  and  for  quite  a 
number  of  years  held  in  it  two  weekly  meetings  statedly  and 
others  occasionally.  The  construction  of  the  interior  of  their 
place  of  worship  was  peculiar,  and  so  was  the  seating  of  the  wor- 


326 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


shippers.  A  broad  aisle  extended  through  the  building  its  entire 
length.  Near  this  was  a  movable  partition  by  which  the  one  room 
could  be  made  into  two,  if  desired.  At  the  end  of  the  room  were 
elevated  seats.  The  male  members  of  the  society  sat  on  one  side 
of  the  broad  aisle  and  the  females  on  the  other,  the  aged  persons 
and  officials  occupying  the  higher  seats. 

The  members  of  the  "Meeting"  at  the  proper  time  quietly  took 
their  accustomed  places,  and  remained  in  silence  for  about  an 
hour  unless  some  one  was  "moved  to  speak."  Sometimes  one 
person  and  sometimes  several  would  occupy  a  portion  of  the  time. 
When  the  proper  time  for  closing  the  meeting  arrived,  the 
leader,  "who  occupied  one  of  the  elevated  seats,  would  extend  his 
hand  to  the  person  sitting  next  to  him  and  they  would  shake 
hands.  The  shake  would  then  become  general,  this  ceremony 
closing  the  meeting."  There  were  some  "gifts"  in  the  society  that 
were  generally  improved.  Lindley  M.  Hoag  was  a  forcible 
speaker,  and  would  sometimes  preach  an  extempore  sermon  that 
would  continue  for  more  than  an  hour  without  wearying  his 
auditors.  The  talks  of  his  wife,  Huldah,  were  frequent,  and  found 
much  favor  with  those  who  listened  to  her. 

The  Friends  dressed  well,  but  not  showily.  The  material  of 
their  garments  was  of  good  quality,  but  of  sober  colors  and  plain- 
ly made.  The  style  of  their  bonnets  was  regulated  by  the  age  of 
the  wearers  and  was  changeless,  the  aged  women  wearing  a  hod- 
shaped  black  silk ;  the  middle-aged,  a  white  silk  of  the  same 
shape ;  and  the  young  misses,  a  white  silk  with  the  front  slightly 
flaring. 

It  is  not  known  that  there  was  ever  any  organized  society  of 
Universalists  in  Wolfeborough,  but  there  have  been  quite  a  num- 
ber of  persons  in  different  parts  of  the  town  who  professed  that 
faith.  They  were  relatively  more  numerous  in  the  neighborhood 
of  South  Wolfeborough  than  elsewhere.  In  1845  a  union  church 
was  built  in  that  village,  the  probable  cost  of  which  was  eight 
hundred  dollars.  Within  a  few  years  it  has  been  repaired  and 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  327 

modernized.  To  the  expense  of  erecting  this  house  the  Uni- 
versalists  contributed  more  than  any  other  sect,  although  a 
preacher  of  that  denomination  seldom  occupies  the  desk,  which 
is  free  to  all  clergymen. 

There  were  probably  few,  if  any,  professed  Unitarians  in  Wolfe- 
borough  previous  to  1880.  In  the  summer  of  1882  Rev.  Mr. 
Powell,  pastor  of  the  Unitarian  Church  at  Laconia,  held  services 
several  Sabbaths  on  the  deck  of  steamer  Lady  of  the  Lake,  while 
lying  at  the  Wolfeborough  wharf,  and  in  the  summer  of  1883 
Rev.  Mr.  Brown,  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  while  on  his  vacation, 
which  he  spent  in  Wolfeborough,  preached  in  the  Christian 
Church  Sunday  afternoons.  During  the  following  three  years 
there  was  some  preaching  by  different  ministers  under  the  man- 
agement of  Rev.  S.  C.  Beane,  of  Concord,  Mass.,  the  meetings 
being  held  in  a  hall.  March  25,  1886,  the  First  Unitarian  Society 
in  Wolfeborough  was  organized.  The  original  members  were 
Charles  H.  Parker,  William  B.  Hodge,  Frank  P.  Hobbs,  Rufus 
H.  King,  Ida  M.  Clark,  Mary  A.  Dowlin,  Fred  W.  Prindle,  Abbie 
M.  Prindle,  Joseph  Lewando,  Nellie  J.  Lewando,  Charles  F. 
Piper,  Sewall  W.  Abbott.  The  first  board  of  officers  consisted  of 
Oliver  Dowlin,  president;  Ida  M.  Clark,  vice-president;  Fred  W. 
Prindle,  clerk  ;  Frank  P.  Hobbs,  treasurer ;  William  B.  Hodge, 
Charles  F.  Piper,  Joseph  Lewando,  executive  committee. 

December  4,  1886,  the  society  voted  to  build  a  church,  and 
chose  Greenleaf  B.  Clark,  William  B.  Hodge,  and  Fred  W. 
Prindle  a  building  committee.  This  committee  contracted  with 
Charles  Prindle  and  Winthrop  D.  Hersey  to  erect  the  edifice,  and 
January  17,  1888,  it  was  dedicated.  At  the  dedicatory  exercises 
the  consecrating  prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  Fielder  Israel,  of 
Salem,  Mass.,  and  the  sermon  delivered  by  Rev.  Brooke  Herford. 
It  is  the  most  costly  church  structure  in  Wolfeborough,  being 
built  and  furnished  at  an  expense  of  six  thousand  dollars.  The 
first  pastor  of  the  society,  which  has  no  church  organization,  was 
Rev.  Loren  Benjamin  McDonald.  He  has  been  succeeded  by 


328 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Revs.  Laighton,  Lock,  Hamlet,  and  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  An- 
drew Hahn.  A  Sunday-school  was  established  about  the  time 
of  the  dedication  of  the  church  which  had  fifty  members.  Rev. 
L.  B.  McDonald  was  its  superintendent. 

The  Adventists  became  a  distinct  religious  people  about  1840. 
Having  become  believers  in  the  near  approach  of  the  advent  of 
Jesus  Christ,  and  discovering,  as  they  thought,  too  much  con- 
formity to  the  world  in  church  organizations,  they,  to  a  certain 
extent,  withdrew  from  them.  For  a  few  years  great  religious  ex- 
citement prevailed,  and  many  persons  affiliated  with  the  new  class 
of  believers.  They  organized  no  churches  and  settled  no  minis- 
ters, their  meetings  being  generally  held  in  school-houses  and 
conducted  for  the  most  part  by  itinerating  preachers,  the  mem- 
bers of  the  worshipping  assemblies  taking  an  active  part  in  the 
services.  About  1854  their  meetings  became  somewhat  localized 
at  the  schoolhouse  in  Pleasant  Valley,  where  for  a  long  time  they 
held  Sabbath  meetings,  conducted  by  the  Churchills,  Charles 
Coleman,  and  other  preachers.  In  1886  they  established  meet- 
ings at  \Yolfeborough  village,  under  the  direction  of  Elder  Al- 
phonzo  Davis,  holding  them  in  private  houses  and  in  a  few  instances 
in  the  Christian  and  Free  Baptist  Churches.  After  that,  for  sev- 
eral years  they  occupied  halls,  where  they  had  constant  preaching 
by  different  ministers,  and  were  quite  prosperous.  In  1890  a 
church  was  organized,  and  in  1891  a  chapel  was  built  on  Union 
Street  at  a  cost  of  thirty-eight  hundred  dollars.  It  was  dedicated 
in  1892,  A.  W.  Sibley  preaching  the  dedicatory  sermon.  The 
church  has  had  two  pastors,  Elders  Mark  Stevens  and  E.  A. 
Goodwin. 

Very  few  Catholics  have  made  homes  in  Wolfeborough.  Sev- 
eral of  Irish  nationality  have  lived  in  the  town,  but  have  received 
little  attention  from  their  religious  teachers.  More,  but  not  a 
large  number,  of  French  extraction  have  domiciled  here,  and 
have  for  several  years  been  occasionally  visited  by  a  priest.  In 
1898  they  erected  a  chapel  about  twenty  feet  square,  at  a  probable 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


329 


cost  of  four  hundred  dollars,  and  in  it  services  are  occasionally 
held. 

Present  Location  of  Churches — Advent,  Union  Street ;  Cath- 
olic, Beatrice  Street ;  Christian,  North  Main  Street ;  Congre- 
gational, South  Main  Street ;  Unitarian,  Glendon  Street ;  Free- 
will Baptist,  Center  Street,  Wolfeborough  Falls.  There  are  union 
churches  at  Center  Wolfeborough,  East  Wolfeborough,  North 
Wolfeborough,  and  South  Wolfeborough. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

SCHOOLS — ANDREW  COLLINS — ISAIAH  HORNE — GRAIN  CURRENCY 
— FOUR  DISTRICTS — SCHOOL-ROOMS — FURNITURE — EIGHT 
DISTRICTS — SCHOOL  LOT  SOLD — SCHOOL-HOUSES — TEACH- 
ERS— DUDLEY  LEAVITT — THE  FIRE  LIST — THE  SWEEPING 
LIST — BOARDING  AROUND — LITTLE  REPUBLICS — BRANDY 
SCHEME — SCHOOL  COMMITTEE — EXHIBIT  OF  SCHOOLS 
1840 — DISTRICT  Two — DISTRICT  ONE — UNION  OF  DIS- 
TRICTS— HIGH  SCHOOL — TOWN  SYSTEM  ADOPTED — WO- 
MEN TEACHERS  COME  TO  THE  FRONT — THE  FIRST  STOVE. 

IN  1773  the  town  voted  to  raise  five  pounds  for  a  school,  and  in 
1774  an  additional  sum  of  the  same  amount  for  a  like  purpose. 
There  is  no  evidence  that  either  of  these  votes  became  effective. 
In  1776  John  Sinkler  brought  a  bill  against  the  town  for  "going 
after  a  school-teacher."  He  probably  failed  to  obtain  one.  Very 
important  matters  were  then  engrossing  the  attention  of  the  in- 
habitants of  the  town  as  well  as  of  the  country  generally.  The 
restraints  of  government  were  loosely  held,  and  the  votes  of 
majorities  could  not  always  be  enforced. 

It  is  probable  that  there  was  no  school  in  Wolfeborough  until 
1781,  when  Andrew  Collins  appeared  on  the  stage  in  the  double 
role  of  preacher  and  school-master.  His  necessarily  brief  history 
is  found  in  preceding  pages  under  "The  Ministry."  A  state  law 
having  been  enacted  rendering  towns  that  made  no  provision  for 
schools  liable  to  be  fined,  a  town-meeting  was  held  December 
17,  1782,  at  which  it  was  voted  "to  hire  a  school  for  six  months 
the  coming  year,  three  months  in  the  winter  and  three  in  the 
summer."  The  selectmen  engaged  Isaiah  Home  to  take  charge 
of  the  winter  school.  Here  is  a  copy  of  his  agreement : — 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


331 


"Wolfeborough,  Thursday,  December  19,  1782. 
This  day  agreed  with  Messrs.  William  Rogers  and  Richard 
Rust,  selectmen  of  the  town,  to  keep  a  proper  English  school  for 
three  months,  at  eleven  dollars,  silver  currency,  per  month,  and 
in  such  parts  of  said  town  as  they  shall  direct,  the  school  to  begin 
on  Monday  next,  I  finding  my  board.  Witness  my  hand, 

Isaiah  Home." 

The  town  voted  subsequently  not  to  have  the  summer  term 
of  school.  In  January,  1783,  a  school-tax  of  ten  pounds  was  as- 
sessed. In  1785  the  town  voted  to  have  a  school  for  three  months 
in  the  summer.  It  was  kept  by  Nathaniel  Ambrose,  Jr.,  who 
lived  with  his  father  in  Moultonborough.  The  following  winter 
the  father  received  his  son's  wages  in  corn,  which,  with  rye,  was 
a  staple  currency,  most  of  the  taxes  in  Wolfeborough  being  paid 
in  these  two  articles,  and  nearly  all  business  transactions  among 
the  inhabitants  based  on  their  fixed  values,  which  were  deter- 
mined by  votes  passed  in  town  meeting.  Corn  was  valued  at 
three  shillings  and  rye  at  four  shillings  a  bushel.  For  the  ac- 
commodation of  tax-payers  two  grain-takers  were  appointed. 
They  were  William  Rogers  on  the  south-west  side  of  the  town  and 
William  Triggs  on  the  north-east.  The  grain-taxes  were  taken 
by  the  farmers  to  these  depositories,  and  from  them  disbursed  by 
orders  from  the  selectmen. 

In  1786  the  town  voted  to  have  no  school,  and  during  the  three 
following  years  there  is  no  record  of  any.  November  22,  1790,  a 
school-tax  of  nineteen  pounds  was  assessed.  The  selectmen 
divided  the  town  into  four  districts,  in  which  schools  were  kept 
by  Nathaniel  Ambrose  as  follows :  number  one,  "Above  the 
Bridge,"  sixty  days;  number  two,  "Below  the  Bridge,"  thirty- 
nine  days;  number  three,  "Cabbott,"  or  "Farm,"  fifty-six  days; 
number  four,  "Haines,"  twenty-five  days.  These  schools  were 
kept  in  private  houses.  That  in  district  number  one  occupied 
an  upper  room  in  the  newly  erected  and  not  completely  finished 


332 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


domicil  of  Benjamin  Blake.  He  and  his  wife  came  to  Wolfe- 
borough  in  the  early  spring  of  1768.  They  built  a  log-house  in 
in  which  they  lived  eighteen  years,  in  1786  exchanging  their 
closely  crowded  quarters  for  a  dwelling  of  ampler  dimensions. 
Some  years  after,  this  was  consumed  by  fire,  and  was  replaced  by 
another  of  similar  size  and  structure. 

In  1790,  when  the  school-districts  were  located,  Mr.  Blake's 
house  was  probably  the  most  suitable  for  a  school  of  any  in  that 
neighborhood,  yet  it  required  some  outlay  to  fit  it  for  the  pur- 
pose intended,  as  the  following  bill  of  expenses  indicates : — 

"Wolfeborough,  May,  1790. 

The  town  of  Wolfeborough  to  Benjamin  Blake  Dr. 

To  four  benches  to  sit  on  6  shillings 

To  fixing  the  room  for  the  school  I  shilling 

To  stuff  for  the  banisters  I  shilling  6  pence 

The  whole  amounting  to  8  shillings  6  pence." 

Of  course  provision  of  some  sort  was  made  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  schools  in  the  other  districts,  but  there  is  no 
record  of  any  action  until  September,  1793,  when  Daniel  Brewster, 
who  came  to  Wolfeborough  two  years  before,  charges  the  town 
"six  shillings  for  making  two  additional  benches  and  a  writing- 
table  for  the  use  of  the  school."  About  the  same  time  Jesse 
Merrill  made  "a  writing-bench  and  two  little  boxes  for  the  use 
of  the  schools."  This  simple  furniture  was  removed  from  place 
to  place  to  accommodate  the  schools,  as  the  following  bill  of 
Jacob  Smith  shows  : — 

"The  Selectmen  to  Jacob  Smith  Dr.  December  1793  to  mov- 
ing the  school-benches  at  sundry  times  three  shillings." 

In  1793  the  town  had  built  a  meeting-house  and  settled  a  minis- 
ter, and  schools  began  to  receive  more  atention.  The  selectmen 
divided  the  town  into  eight  school-districts.  Here  follow  lists 
of  the  tax-payers  in  the  several  districts  acording  to  their  respec- 
tive financial  showing: — 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


333 


District  number  one  was  located  on  the  main  road  between 
Smith's  River  and  Tuftonborough,  and  contained  one-fifth  of  the 
town's  inhabitants.  List  of  tax-payers — William  Rogers,  Reuben 
Libbey,  Benjamin  Home,  Ebenezer  Meder,  John  Fullerton, 
James  Fullerton,  Joseph  Lary,  Andrew  Lucas,  John  Bassett, 
Lemuel  Clifford,  Jonathan  Blake,  Isaiah  Home,  Andrew  Wiggin, 
Samuel  Tibbetts,  Ebenezer  Home,  Jr.,  Stephen  Home,  Levi  Tib- 
betts,  Isaac  Townsend,  Benjamin  Wiggin,  John  Home,  Eliphaz 
Wiggin,  Jesse  Merrill,  Moses  Wiggin,  Andrew  Wiggin,  Jr., 
Chase  Wiggin.  Whole  number,  twenty-five;  value  of  ratable 
estate,  forty-one  pounds,  fourteen  shillings,  four  pence. 

District  number  two  embraced  the  territory  lying  between 
Smith's  River  and  New  Durham,  extending  east  to  the  Hersey 
Brook  and  also  about  a  mile  on  the  Pine  Hill  road.  List  of  tax- 
payers— James  Connor,  Col.  Henry  Rust,  William  Lucas,  Rich- 
ard Rust,  Henry  Allard,  Thomas  Chase,  Henry  Rust,  Jr.,  James 
Lucas,  Joshua  Varney,  Daniel  Brewster,  Jacob  Smith,  Israel 
Piper,  Wiggin  &  Thurston,  Moses  Varney,  Stephen  Drew,  W'idow 
Martin,  Jesse  Whitten,  Col.  Stephen  Evans,  Joseph  Varney, 
Oliver  Smith,  Joseph  Evans,  Jason  Chamberlin,  Daniel  Brewster, 
Jr.,  Josiah  Evans,  Samuel  Leavitt,  Paul  Blazo,  Benjamin  Whid- 
den.  Whole  number,  twenty-seven ;  value  of  ratable  estate, 
thirty-six  pounds,  eighteen  shillings,  eight  pence. 

District  number  three  consisted  of  Wolfeborough  Neck.  List 
of  tax-payers — Joseph  Edmonds,  Josiah  Leavitt,  Jonathan  Ed- 
monds, John  Edmonds,  Daniel  Cooley.  Whole  number,  five ; 
value  of  ratable  estate,  six  pounds,  six  shillings,  two  pence.  To 
this  was  added  three  pounds,  eight  shillings,  and  six  pence  of 
ratable  estate  from  the  Went  worth  Farm. 

District  number  four,  called  "Pine  Hill,"  lay  on  the  road  from 
the  farm  of  Andrew  Wiggin  to  the  Hersey  neighborhood,  on  that 
through  the  fifty  acre  lots  towards  the  "Mills,"  and  also  on  that 
leading  to  the  Stockbridge  Mountain.  List  of  taxpayers — 
Jonathan  Hersey,  David  Copp,  William  Fullerton,  John  Lucas, 


334 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


John  Piper,  David  Piper,  Jeremiah  Gould,  Paul  Wiggin,  John 
Shorey,  Xehemiah  Lucas,  Samuel  Piper,  Timothy  Piper.  Whole 
number  twelve ;  value  of  ratable  estate,  fifteen  pounds,  one  shil- 
ling-, ten  pence. 

District  number  five,  then  called  the  "North  District,"  em- 
braced the  whole  of  the  Masonian  proprietors'  lands,  the  westerly 
portion  of  Wolfeborough  Addition,  and  the  farms  lying  on  the 
road  from  North  Wolfeborough  to  the  meeting-house.  Within 
its  boundaries  were  one-fifth  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town.  List 
of  tax-payers — Isaac  Goldsmith,  Aaron  Frost,  Isaac  Martin, 
Samuel  Tibbetts,  Jr.,  Joseph  Keniston,  Jedidiah  Drew,  William 
Triggs,  Joseph  Haines,  Jacob  Haines,  Joshua  Haines,  John 
Swazey,  Matthias  Haines,  Dudley  Hardy,  Perry  Hardy,  Isaac 
Drew,  Cornelius  Jenness,  Abner  Moodey,  William  Nudd, 
Ebenezer  Tibbetts,  Jonathan  Tibbetts,  Ichabod  Tibbetts,  Samuel 
Nudd,  Thomas  Drew,  Josiah  Willey,  John  Willey,  Benjamin 
Savage,  Abram  Prebble,  John  Drew,  Aaron  Frost,  Jr.,  William 
Goldsmith.  Whole  number,  thirty ;  amount  of  ratable  estate, 
thirty-five  pounds,  fourteen  shillings,  three  pence. 

District  number  six,  a  union  district  with  Ossipee  and  Wake- 
field,  was  situated  east  of  Whiteface  Mountain.  List  of  tax- 
payers— John  Young,  Samuel  Hide,  Widow  Keniston,  A.  Glover. 
Whole  number,  four ;  value  of  ratable  estate,  seven  pounds,  two 
shillings,  two  pence,  to  which  was  added  three  pounds,  eight 
shillings,  six  pence  of  the  ratable  estate  from  the  Wentworth 
Farm. 

District  number  seven,  called  the  "Farm  District,"  was  situated 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Wentworth  Farm  and  Cottonborough. 
List  of  tax-payers — W'entworth  Farm,  Calder  farm,  William  Cot- 
ton. Jr.,  Edmund  Tibbetts  John  Cotton.  John  Shortridge,  John 
Martin,  Nathaniel  Brown,  Josiah  Cotton,  Isaac  Cotton.  Whole 
number,  thirteen  ;  value  of  ratable  estate,  twenty-five  pounds,  two 
shillings. 

District  number  eight,  called  the  "Furbur  District,"  was  south 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  335 

of  Lake  Wentworth.  List  of  taxpayers — John  Furbur,  Widow 
Leavitt,  John  Brackett,  John  Warren,  George  Warren,  James 
Marden,  George  Yeaton,  Timothy  Martin.  Whole  number, 
eight ;  value  of  ratable  estate,  four  pounds,  three  shillings,  seven 
pence,  to  which  was  added  five  pounds  of  the  ratable  estate  of  the 
Wentworth  Farm. 

The  ratable  estate  of  the  Wentworth  Farm  was  thirty-six 
pounds,  equal  to  more  than  one-sixth  of  that  of  the  whole  town, 
including  both  persons  and  properties.  It  was  apportioned  to 
districts  three,  six,  seven,  and  eight.  The  Calder  farm,  Jonathan 
Hersey,  John  Furbur,  and  James  Connor  were  rated  at  three 
pounds  or  more,  and  Col.  Henry  Rust,  William  Rogers,  William 
Lucas,  John  Young,  and  Reuben  Libbey  at  from  two  to  five 
shillings  less. 

At  the  census  of  1790  the  population  of  the  town  numbered — 
males  about  sixteen  years  of  age,  one  hundred  and  twenty ;  males 
under  sixteen,  one  hundred  and  ten  ;  females  of  all  ages,  two  hun- 
dred and  seventeen ;  total,  four  hundred  and  forty-seven.  The 
number  of  tax-payers  in  1793  were  one  hundred  and  thirty.  As 
the  foregoing  exhibit  of  school-districts  shows,  the  inhabitants  of 
the  town  were  generally  much  scattered,  the  most  compactly 
settled  parts  being  the  main  road  north  of  Smith's  River  and  the 
Wentworth  Farm  neighborhood.  Few  families  had  as  yet  estab- 
lished homes  in  the  central  part  of  the  town  or  in  those  portions 
now  occupied  by  the  villages.  There  was  no  collection  of  build- 
ings sufficiently  large  even  to  be  denominated  a  hamlet. 

The  school-tax  for  the  year  amounted  to  ninety-two  dollars 
and  fifty  cents,  and  was  thus  distributed :  to  district  one,  twenty 
dollars  and  forty-four  cents ;  to  district  two,  eighteen  dollars  and 
ten  cents ;  to  district  three,  four  dollars  and  seventy-seven  cents ; 
to  district  four,  seven  dollars  and  forty  cents ;  to  district  five, 
seventeen  dollars  and  fifty-eight  cents ;  to  district  six,  four  dollars 
and  ninety  cents ;  to  district  seven,  twelve  dollars  and  thirty 
cents ;  to  district  eight,  six  dollars  and  ninety-six  cents. 


336  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

During  1790  Abraham  Peavey,  George  Nicholson,  and  Samuel 
Tucker  taught  schools  in  Wolfeborough.  Each  teacher  perhaps 
visited  one  or  more  of  the  districts,  and  kept  a  term  of  school,  the 
length  of  which  was  proportioned  to  the  amount  of  tax  allotted 
it,  occupying  the  "spare  room"  of  some  commodious  dwelling  in 
the  neighborhood,  and  except  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town, 
where  movable  school  furniture  had  already  been  provided,  utiliz- 
ing household  articles  supplemented  with  rude  tables,  seats,  and 
benches.  So  pressing  was  the  need  of  schooling  that  it  is  not 
improbable  that  some  of  the  inhabitants,  in  order  to  lengthen  the 
terms  of  school,  may  have  furnished  the  teacher  with  gratuitous 
board,  allowing  him  to  retain  the  whole  of  his  pittance  of  grain  or 
money. 

Agreeable  to  a  vote  of  the  town,  the  school  lot  was  adver- 
tised to  be  sold  June  i,  1797,  at  public  vendue  under  the  follow- 
ing conditions  made  by  the  committee  having  the  matter  in 
charge,  which  consisted  of  Richard  Rust,  William  Rogers,  and 
Nathaniel  Brown : — 

"ist.  Each  lot  to  be  set  up  separately  and  struck  off  to  the 
highest  bidder,  who  will  be  deemed  the  purchaser. 

2nd.  A  valid  conveyance  to  be  made  on  payment  of  the  pur- 
chase money. 

3rd.  The  purchaser  shall  pay  five  per  cent  on  the  amount  each 
lot  sells  for  upon  the  land  being  struck  off  to  him, 
which  will  be  forfeited  on  his  or  their  non-compliance 
with  his  bid  or  neglecting  to  fulfill  the  conditions. 

4th.  The  purchaser  may  pay  the  money  down  or  he  may  have 
the  indulgence  of  nine  years  for  the  payment  of  the 
whole  of  the  purchase  money  arising  from  the  sale  of 
each  lot  by  giving  good  security  on  interest  and  paying 
one-third  of  the  principle  in  two  years,  one-third  part 
in  four  years,  if  requested,  and  the  remaining  third 
part  in  nine  years,  and  the  interest  arising  on  the  whole 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


337 


annually — and  he  may  pay  the  same  at  any  time  within 
the  said  term  of  nine  years,  provided  he  shall  pay  the 
money  due  at  one  and  the  same  time. 

5th.  A  bond  will  be  given  for  a  lease  or  deed  until  the  money 
is  paid  as  expressed  in  the  fourth  article. 

6th.  Unless  payments  are  made  agreeably  to  the  fourth  article, 
the  land  and  any  part  of  the  money  which  has  been  paid 
shall  become  forfeited  and  the  bond  of  no  effect." 

The  lot  contained  four  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  and  was  divided 
into  nine  fifty-acre  lots.  On  the  road  leading  from  the  town 
meeting-house  to  North  Wolfeborough,  it  extended  from  the 
westerly  side  of  F.  B.  Home's  farm  to  that  owned  by  Everett 
Fernald,  and  in  a  northerly  direction,  to  the  farm  occupied  by  the 
late  Ira  Home.  Among  the  first  purchasers  were  Thomas 
Stevenson,  John  Rines,  George  Yeaton,  and  Tilly  Lary.  Three 
sons  of  Jacob  Home,  viz.,  James  Twombley,  Henry,  and  Elijah 
eventually  had  farms  out  of  it.  The  most  of  it  is  now  in  the  pos- 
session of  Frank  B.  Home,  Samuel  Reynolds,  and  Albert  F.  and 
James  Stevenson.  At  the  time  of  the  sale  it  brought  about  five 
dollars  an  acre.  The  interest  on  the  money  arising  from  the  sale 
of  the  school  lot  was  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  dollars  and  eighty- 
four  cents,  and  with  the  school-tax,  it  was  thus  divided  in  1802 :— 


SCHOOL  TAX. 

1IN  IMtJUStTL    UJN 
SCHOOL  FUND. 

TOTAL. 

District  one 

$35-90 

$33-29 

$69.19 

"      two 

25.46 

23-35 

48.81 

three 

3049 

28.00 

58.49 

"      four 

12.80 

11.15 

23-95 

five 

6.74 

6.18 

12.92 

"      six 

I3o8 

12-45 

26.O3 

seven 

8.85 

S.ii 

16.96 

"      eight 

34.98 

32-32 

67.30 

$168.80    $154-85    $323-65 


338  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

In  1804  the  interest  arising  from  the  school  fund  was  divided 
according  to  the  number  of  polls  in  each  district.  This  method 
was  continued  until  1808,  when  it  was  divided  according  to  the 
number  of  children  between  the  ages  of  three  and  eighteen  years 
in  the  several  districts.  In  1804  ft  was  voted  to  raise  fifty  dollars 
extra  for  schools. 

Soon  after  the  division  of  the  town  into  school  districts  it  was 
required  that  each  should  erect  a  schoolhouse  at  its  own  ex- 
pense. There  was  some  delay  in  complying  with  this  requisition. 
The  first  schoolhouse  erected  was  probably  in  district  number 
one.  It  was  located  near  the  house  of  Benjamin  Blake,  and  was 
always  designated  as  the  Blake  schoolhouse.  Not  far  from  the 
same  time  a  schoolhouse  was  erected  near  the  dwelling  of  Daniel 
Brewster  for  the  accommodation  of  district  number  two.  This  is 
said  to  have  been  built  of  logs.  In  a  few  years  a  frame  school- 
house  was  erected  near  the  residence  of  Henry  Wiggin,  Esq., 
now  occupied  by  Mrs.  George  W.  Furbur.  The  first  school- 
house  in  Pine  Hill  district  was  built  near  the  Mason  spring ;  the 
first  one  in  the  Center  district,  known  as  the  Rines  schoolhouse, 
near  the  present  residence  of  James  Stevenson,  his  grandfather, 
John  Rines  then  occupying  the  dwelling;  the  first  in  the  Haines 
district  at  Dimon's  Corner,  near  where  stood  Aaron  Robert's 
store.  The  first  schoolhouse  in  the  Farm  district  was  built  on 
the  Farm  road.  Some  years  after  this  district  was  divided  into 
three  and  a  schoolhouse  erected  on  each  of  the  three  parallel 
roads  leading  from  Brookfield,  viz.,  the  Farm,  Pequaket,  and  Cot- 
tonborough. 

In  1807  non-resident  lands  were  taxed  and  the  ratable  value 
apportioned  to  the  several  districts  by  the  selectmen.  In  1811 
Richard  Rust,  Samuel  Nowell,  and  Dr.  Moses  Hoitt  were  ap- 
pointed a  superintending  school  committee.  Schools  had  now 
three  sources  of  revenue,  the  school  tax  assessed  on  polls  and 
estate  of  residents,  the  annual  interest  of  the  school  fund,  and 
the  non-resident  school  tax,  which  had  been  established  by  legis- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUQH.  339 

lative  enactment.  The  resident  school  tax  was  appropriated  in 
the  several  districts  in  which  it  was  raised ;  the  interest  from  the 
school  fund  was  divided  among  the  districts  as  determined  by  a 
vote  of  the  citizens,  and  the  non-resident  school  tax  was  as- 
signed to  the  more  needy  of  the  school  districts  at  the  discretion 
of  the  selectmen. 

April  17,  1820,  at  a  special  town  meeting,  it  was  voted  to  form 
a  new  school  district  from  portions  of  districts  numbered  one  and 
two,  to  extend  from  the  Neck  road  to  Pickering's  Corner,  in- 
cluding the  farms  of  Joseph  Varney  and  Daniel  Bassett,  and  to 
be  called  district  number  nine.  At  another  town-meeting  held  on 
the  fourth  day  of  the  following  May,  agreeable  to  the  petition  of 
James  Fullerton,  Tobias  Banfield,  and  thirty-seven  other  persons, 
the  foregoing  vote  was  reconsidered. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  persons  who  taught  school  in  Wolfe- 
borough  to  the  year  1820.  Some  of  them  kept  only  a  single 
term,  while  others  were  thus  engaged  more  or  less  for  years. 
The  date  preceding  a  name  indicates  the  year  that  person  first 
taught  in  the  town.  1781,  Andrew  Collins;  1782,  Isaiah  Home; 
1785,  Nathaniel  Ambrose,  Jr.;  1791-3,  Samuel  Tucker,  Abraham 
Peavey,  George  Nicholson,  Anna  Blake ;  1794,  Thomas  Demer- 
ritt,  Col.  Mark  Wiggin,  (Col.  Wiggin  was  then  past  the  meridian 
of  life.  He  had  been  an  active  citizen  of  Stratham,  where  he  held 
much  office,  civil  and  military.  He  taught  a  number  of  schools 
in  Wolfeborough,  and  was  a  prominent  town  official),  William 
Kent,  (Mr.  Kent  subsequently  became  part-owner  of  the  Cutter 
&  Sewall  mills,  and  eventually  removed  to  Canada),  Betsy  Wig- 
gin;  1796,  Moses  Thompson;  1797,  Katherine  Edmonds,  (this 
was  the  Neck  school.  It  continued  nine  weeks,  and  the  teacher 
received  one  and  one-quarter  dollars  per  week,  boarding  probably 
in  her  father's  family),  Horatio  G.  Balch,  Moses  Bickford,  Nancy 
Wiggin;  1798,  Benjamin  Canney ;  1799,  George  Melville,  John 
F_rench,  Joseph  Ordiorne ;  1800,  Samuel  Fox  (afterwards  a 
prominent  citizen  holding'  various  offices)  ;  1801,  Israel  Piper, 


340 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


Betsy  Lucas,  Betsy  Fernald ;  1802,  Nancy  Coleman,  Charles 
Barker,  Jonathan  Copp  (a  teacher  for  many  years)  ;  1803,  Samuel 
Wiggin,  Betsy  Gould,  Sarah  Johnson  (afterwards  the  wife  of 
Esquire  Thomas  Stevenson),  James  F.  Moulton,  Mrs.  John 
Snell,  Mrs.  Josiah  Frost ;  1804,  Wealthan  Wiggin,  Hiram  Hodge  ; 
1805,  Aaron  Boodey,  Nehemiah  Ordway,  Henry  Home,  Ebenezer 
Meader,  Jr. ;  1806,  Stephen  L.  Creighton,  Polly  Gould,  Charles 
Foss,  John  Brown ;  1807,  Dudley  Leayitt.  To  secure  his  services 
as  teacher  for  a  three  months'  term  of  school,  he  was  paid  sixty- 
seven  dollars.  A  portion  of  this  sum  was  voluntarily  contributed 
by  Isaiah  Home,  Ebenezer  Meader,  Jr.,  and  John  W.  Horn,  the 
two  last  being  desirious  of  obtaining  a  knowledge  of  certain 
branches,  most  probably  including  higher  mathematics  and  sur- 
veying, which  ordinary  teachers  could  not  impart.  (For  the  oc- 
casion the  new  Blake  school-house  was  the  college).  Miss  Savage, 
Sanborn  Blake,  Thomas  Stevenson,  James  Stuart;  1808,  John 
Bassett,  Moses  Connor,  (Because  of  the  many  schools  he  had 
taught,  he  was  called  "Master  Connor."  He  was  a  nephew  of 
James  Connor  and  a  cripple.  Being  a  good  penman,  he  wrote 
many  family  records,  some  of  his  artistic  productions  being  still 
preserved),  Isaiah  G.  Orne,  Hannah  Lucas;  1809,  Nathaniel 
Burleigh,  David  T.  Livy  (for  many  years  a  Wolfeborough  phy- 
sician), John  J.  Coleman,  Jonathan  Blake,  John  Rines,  Hannah 
Home,  Mary  Young,  Charles  Foss,  Abigail  Meserve,  Polly  Gow ; 
1811,  Joseph  Farrar  (a  practising  lawyer,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Charles  Rollins),  Joseph  Shorey  (who  constructed  the  Mason 
watering-trough,  which  has  been  in  use  for  more  than  a  century), 
William  Cotton,  Daniel  Fellows  ;  1812,  John  W.  Home,  John  C. 
Young,  Joseph  Edgerly  (a  Wolfeborough  physician),  Thomas  J. 
Tebbetts  (a  Wolfeborough  physician,  held  much  public  office), 
Dearborn  Wedgewood,  Mary  Hayes,  Sally  Crosby,  Dolly  Teb- 
betts, Betsy  Brewster ;  1813,  Samuel  Burleigh,  Olive  Shepherd, 
Jonathan  Bickford,  Jr.,  Nancy  Philbrick,  Elizabeth  Powers, 
George  W.  Warren;  1814,  Mary  Copp,  Samuel  Leavitt,  Jr.  (be- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUG^.  341 

came  a  prominent  citizen  and  public  officer  of  Tuftonborough), 
Gideon  Straw,  George  Nowell,  Sarah  Lyford,  Deborah  Gilman ; 
1815,  David  B.  Straw,  Henry  Tebbetts,  Abigail  Snell;  1816, 
Hannah  Gage,  Mary  Dudley ;  1817,  Charles  Gilman,  Polly 
Hawkins ;  1819,  David  Fullerton ;  1820,  Betsy  Lucas. 

The  money  arising  from  the  sale  of  the  school  lot  was  for  a 
number  of  years  loaned  to  individuals,  and  with  some  additions 
from  the  literary  fund,  or  railroad  tax,  constitutes  the  school 
fund,  which  now  amounts  to  forty-three  hundred  dollars.  After 
a  while  the  town  used  the  principal  in  paying  current  expenses 
and  thereby  became  legally  and  morally  responsible  for  the 
amount  thereof.  A  six  per  cent  interest  is  allowed  for  the  same, 
which  is  annually  expended  for  the  maintenance  of  the  schools  of 
Wolfeborough. 

For  the  half-century  following  1820,  there  was  no  very  rapid 
progress  in  Wolfeborough  schools  in  methods  or  general  charac- 
ter. There  was,  however,  a  gradual  improvement.  Most  of  the 
persons  who  engaged  in  teaching  were  natives,  but  few  visiting 
the  town  in  search  of  employment  as  instructors  on  account  of 
the  low  wages  of  teachers  and  the  short  terms  of  school.  Enter- 
prising young  men  and  women  generally  regarded  the  business 
as  merely  a  stepping-stone  to  some  more  constant  and  lucrative 
employment ;  consequently  experienced  teachers  were  not  very 
abundant.  A  few  farmers  continued  to  instruct  in  winter  schools 
for  several  years,  their  circumstances  being  such  as  to  afford 
them  some  leisure  in  winter,  but  mechanics,  merchants,  and  busi- 
ness men  found  their  time  fully  occupied  in  their  chosen  occupa- 
tions. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  1821,  the  selectmen  were  instructed 
to  re-district  the  town  and  determine  the  boundaries  of  the  several 
districts.  Their  action  was  to  be  considered  at  the  next  annual 
meeting.  This  they  did,  increasing  the  number  of  the  districts 
to  eleven.  In  1823  Rev.  John  P.  Cleveland,  Drs.  Thomas  J. 
Tebbetts  and  David  T.  Livy,  Aaron  Roberts,  and  Thomas  Rust 


342  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

were  chosen  superintending  school  committee.  They  were  in- 
structed to  visit  the  schools  at  the  beginning  and  close  of  each 
term,  and  to  employ  no  person  to  teach  who  had  not  received 
from  them  a  certificate  of  proper  qualifications  for  teaching.  In 
case  they  should  not  follow  the  latter  instruction,  they  would 
become  personally  liable  for  the  wages  of  that  person.  In  1828 
a  prudential  school  committee  consisting  of  a  resident  in  each 
district  was  chosen.  It  was  composed  of  David  Fullerton,  Daniel 
Pickering,  William  Furbur,  John  Bassett,  Joseph  Banfield, 
Samuel  Huggins,  Benjamin  Smith,  Thomas  J.  Tebbetts,  Jeremiah 
Towle,  Robert  Newell,  and  Joshua  Pierce. 

On  account  of  the  small  amount  of  money  appropriated  for  the 
early  schools  of  Wolfeborough  it  was  necessary  to  impose  on  the 
pupils  duties  which  to  those  of  today  would  seem  very  irksome. 
For  many  years  the  wood  for  the  school-house  fires  was  delivered 
green,  and  sled  length,  that  is,  in  logs  from  eight  to  twelve  feet 
long.  Occasionally  it  was  dragged  to  the  place  in  whole  trees, 
the  branches  only  being  removed.  A  fire  list  was  prepared  by 
the  teacher,  and  the  boys  were  expected  to  fit  the  wood  for  burn- 
ing and  "tend  the  fire."  It  required  a  considerable  portion  of 
the  previous  afternoon  to  cut  the  wood  and  gather  the  kindlings, 
which  consisted  of  partially  decayed  stumps  and  fallen  limbs.  If 
the  weather  was  extremely  cold,  the  temporary  janitor  would  be 
obliged  to  spend  a  large  portion  of  the  next  day  in  efforts  to 
keep  the  open  school-room  comfortably  warm.  He  was  not  ex- 
pected to  be  sparing  of  the  fuel,  and  its  consumption  in  the  broad 
fireplace,  with  its  high  jambs  was  not  inconsiderable.  Such  exer- 
cise was  well  calculated  to  develop  muscle,  and  render  unneces- 
sary expensive  training  in  athletics. 

A  sweeping-list  was  also  a  necessary  accompaniment  of  the 
school-room.  The  broom  was  manufactured  on  the  spot.  It  con- 
sisted of  a  flat  bundle  of  hemlock  sprigs  fastened  to  a  long  stick 
handle  with  a  tow  string,  perhaps  hand-twisted.  To  properly 
shape  such  a  broom  and  attach  it  firmly  to  the  handle  required 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


343 


a  degree  of  skill.  It  would  not  be  strange  if  sometimes  a  youth, 
as  he  watched  the  manipulations  of  the  deft  fingers  of  the  maiden 
before  him,  fancied  that  at  some  future  time  she  might  become 
the  neat  and  tasteful  mistress  of  his  home. 

Boarding  around  was  a  method  adopted  by  some  of  the  smaller 
school  districts  to  lengthen  the  term  of  school,  the  parents  and 
guardians  mutually  agreeing  to  board  the  teacher  for  a  period 
proportionate  to  the  number  of  pupils  they  were  to  send  to  the 
school.  This  practice  was  advantageous  to  the  children,  as  it 
permitted  them  to  become  better  acquainted  with  the  teacher, 
who  tutored  them  at  their  homes.  It  also  promoted  sociability 
between  parents  and  teachers.  The  objectionable  feature  of  the 
custom  was  the  liability  that  the  teacher  become  a  dyspeptic  by 
an  over-indulgence  in  the  indigestible  delicacies  which  the  house- 
wives vied  with  each  other  in  preparing  for  him,  or  a  rheumatic 
from  the  occupancy  of  the  long  untenanted  bed  in  the  spare  room. 

Occasionally  a  sagacious  parent  who  had  a  large  number  of 
children  and  a  well-stored  larder  would  take  as  a  boarder  an  en- 
terprising teacher  at  a  merely  nominal  price  in  order  that  the 
family  might  be  benefited  by  his  example  and  instructions.  On 
the  approach  of  evening  the  chores  would  be  early  finished,  and 
the  younger  members  of  the  household  sent  to  bed.  Then  the 
broad  dinner-table  would  be  drawn  before  the  blazing  hearth  in 
the  capacious  living-room,  and  the  books,  slates,  and  tallow  dip 
placed  on  it,  while  the  teacher  and  pupils  would  gather  around 
for  stud}'  and  exposition.  A  few  hours  thus  spent  brought  more 
pleasure  and  profit  to  the  participants  than  would  have  been  ob- 
tained in  a  much  longer  stay  in  a  modern  club-room.  Out  of 
families  thus  trained,  have  gone  forth  many  sons  and  daughters 
who  have  creditably  and  successfully  won  their  way  in  the 
broader  fields  of  life. 

Until  about  1830,  the  town  as  a  corporation  managed  school 
affairs  either  by  the  direct  action  of  its  citizens  in  town  meeting, 
or  by  its  agents,  the  selectmen,  or,  in  some  measure,  by  superin- 


344 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


tending  and  prudential  committees.  At  that  time  it  transferred 
a  large  share  of  its  power  and  oversight  in  such  matters  to  the 
little  republics  known  as  school  districts.  These  had  their  officers 
— a  clerk  and  prudential  committee — and  such  special  agents  as 
occurring  circumstances  required.  They  determined  the  time 
and  length  of  school  sessions,  purchased  fuel  and  furniture,  re- 
paired and  erected  school-houses,  and  voted  money  for  extra 
instruction  ;  but  could  neither  assess  nor  collect  taxes.  These 
must  be  authorized  by  the  selectmen.  In  cases  where  statutory 
requirements  were  neglected,  the  selectmen  supplied  the  deficien- 
cies at  the  expense  of  the  district. 

In  one  instance  it  is  evident  that  the  bounds  of  lawful  action 
were  exceeded.  The  inhabitants  of  a  certain  school  district  had 
met  for  the  purpose  of  making  arrangements  to  build  a  much 
needed  school-house.  As  usual  there  were  objections  to  the 
scheme.  It  was  decided  to  purchase  a  gallon  of  brandy  at  the 
expense  of  the  district.  The  result  was  that  the  gloom  of  antici- 
bated  rates  was  banished  by  visions  of  golden  prosperity,  and  an 
affirmative  vote  was  obtained.  The  act  was  not  meritorious  in 
a  moral  or  legal  aspect,  but  it  was  politic,  and  therefore  con- 
doned. 

A  superintending  school  committee  was  elected  in  1823  and 
one  in  1829,  consisting  of  Xathaniel  C.  Towle,  Joseph  Banfield, 
and  Thomas  Rust.  After  that  time  they  were  appointed  by  the 
selectmen.  Here  follows  a  list  of  the  committees  appointed. 

1830-1.  Thomas  J.  Tebbetts.  Daniel  Martin,  Zachariah  Bat- 
chelder ;  1832.  Henry  H.  Orne,  Obadiah  Stoddard,  Enos  Merrill: 
1833.  Thomas  J.  Tebbetts  .Daniel  Martin,  David  Fullerton  :  1834. 
David  Fullerton,  Ebenezer  Tebbetts,  David  Shaw :  1835-6, 
Ebenezer  Tebbetts,  Obadiah  Stoddard,  David  Shaw;  1837-8, 
Ebenezer  Tebbetts,  James  Edgerly,  Samuel  J.  Stevenson  ;  1839- 
40,  William  Thompson,  Benjamin  F.  Parker,  James  A.  Tebbetts  ; 
1841-2,  Henry  H.  Hazelton,  Samuel  J.  Stevenson,  Matthias  M. 
Haines  ;  1843,  Obadiah  Stoddard.  Jeremiah  F.  Hall.  Matthias  M. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


345 


Haines ;  1844-5,  Zachariah  Batchelder,  George  W.  Warren,  Jesse 
A.  Sanborn;  1846,  Zachariah  Batchelder,  Benjamin  F.  Parker, 
Obadiah  Stoddard ;  1847,  Zachariah  Batchelder,  Benjamin  F. 
Parker,  Thomas  L.  Whitton ;  1848,  Thomas  Rust,  George  W. 
Hersey,  Thomas  L.  Whitton ;  1849-50,  Thomas  Rust,  Ira  Blais- 
dell,  Samuel  J.  Stevenson;  1851,  Thomas  Rust,  Samuel  J.  Steven- 
son, Thomas  Bartlett ;  1852,  Thomas  Rust,  Samuel  J.  Stevenson, 
Matthias  M.  Haines ;  1853-4,  Thomas  Rust,  Matthias  M.  Haines, 
Charles  H.  Parker;  1855,  Samuel  J.  Stevenson,  Charles  F.  Hill, 
William  C.  Fox;  1856,  Thomas  Rust,  Thomas  Bartlett,  Stephen 
Merrill;  1857,  Stephen  Merrill,  Thomas  Bartlett,  Charles  F.  Hill; 
1859,  John  Wingate,  Charles  F.  Hill ;  1860,  Charles  F.  Hill,  Wil- 
liam C.  Fox,  Samuel  J.  Stevenson;  1861,  Charles  F.  Hill,  John 
Wood,  Samuel  J.  Stevenson ;  1862,  William  C.  Fox,  Henry  R. 
Parker,  Woodbury  P.  Home ;  1863-4,  Chase  Moulton,  Wood- 
bury  P.  Home,  Samuel  D.  Fox;  1865,  Charles  F.  Hill,  William 
C.  Fox,  Oscar  F.  Whitton;  1867,  Albert  B.  Rust;  1868-9,  Henry 
G.  Home,  Chase  Moulton,  Moses  T.  Gate. 

About  this  time  it  was  decided  to  have  the  superintending 
school  committee  consist  of  one  person  only,  who  was  to  receive 
a  salary  not  exceeding  sixty  dollars.  Under  the  regulation  the 
following  persons  were  appointed :  1870,  Oscar  F.  Whitton ; 
1871,  Josiah  H.  Stinchfield ;  1871-3,  Woodbury  P.  Home; 
1874-5,  Aaron  W.  Aver;  1876-7,  Moses  T.  Gate;  1878,  Henry 
R.  Parker;  1879,  Sumner  Clark;  1881-2,  Woodbury  P.  Home; 
1883,  George  E.  Symonds ;  1884,  John  G.  Gate;  1885,  George  A. 
Haines.  Previous  to  1870  each  member  of  the  superintending 
school  committee  received  annually  two  dollars.  This  was  his 
compensation  for  attending  two  meetings  of  the  committee  held 
for  the  examination  of  persons  who  proposed  to  teach  schools  in 
the  town.  If  he  performed  judicial  functions,  he  was  paid  for  his 
services.  Visiting  schools,  of  which  there  was  little  done,  was 
gratuitous.  Subsequent  to  1885,  school  matters  in  Wolfeborough 
have  been  managed  by  the  town  school  district. 


346 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Here  is  an  exhibit  of  the  school  in  Wolfeborough  in  1840.  The 
first  column  shows  the  number  of  the  district;  the  second,  the 
number  of  pupils  in  it  between  the  ages  of  three  and  eighteen 
years ;  the  third,  the  amount  of  money  alloted  to  it ;  the  fourth 
and  fifth,  the  names  of  the  teachers  employed  in  summer  and 
winter. 


I 

77 

$110.55 

2 

1  02 

$124.19 

3 

35 

$  56.56 

4 

28 

$  45-24 

5 

76 

$  96.39 

6 

21 

$  31-27 

7 

20 

$  34-55 

8 

93 

$135-05 

9 

22 

$  24.65 

10 

IO 

$  11-35 

ii 

16 

$  14.92 

12 

21 

$  34.96 

1.3 

75 

$  95-69 

14 

40 

$  44-56 

15 

43 

$  53-72 

Sarah  A.  Doe 
Mary  A.  Mason 
Louisa  A.  Gate 
Shuah  Libbey 
Melissa  Tebbetts 
Elizabeth  Folsom 
Ann  Moulton 
Mehitable  Bickford 
Hannah  T.  Hersev 


Charles  G.  Tebbetts 
Benjamin  F.  Parker 
Phcebe  Furbur 
Mary  A.  Mason 
Samuel  J.  Stevenson 
Eliza  Tebbetts 
Matthias  M.  Haines 
James  A.  Tebbetts 
Hannah  T.  Hersey 


Elizabeth  Tebbetts  George  W.  Home 
Betsy  A.  Rust  Samuel  S.  Parker 

Mary  J.  Tebbetts      Phineas  Johnson 
Obadiah  Stoddard 


Total  697         $913.65 


The  average  amount  of  school  money  expended  for  each  pupil 
was  one  dollar  and  thirty-four  cents.  These  teachers  were  nearly 
all  natives  of  Wolfeborough,  at  least  five  of  them  being  farmers 
with  families. 

School  district  number  two  originally  extended  from  Xew 
Durham  to  the  Hersey  Brook,  a  distance  of  about  five  miles.  It 
also  embraced  the  whole  of  the  Col.  Rust  lot  and  that  portion 
of  the  Sewall  lot  which  was  on  the  south  side  of  Smith's  River. 
As  in  1829  it  had  increased  considerably  in  population,  small  vil- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  347 

lages  having  been  formed  in  two  localities,  it  was  proposed  to 
divide  the  district  into  two,  the  severing  line  to  be  a  little  south 
of  the  Guppy  (now  the  Berry)  place.  A  proposition  so  reason- 
able met  with  no  opposition,  and  the  southern  portion  became 
district  number  thirteen. 

This  division  left  district  number  two  without  a  schoolhouse, 
and  it  was  decided  to  erect  one  in  Harmony  Grove.  This  loca- 
tion, although  not  central,  was  regarded  as  desirable,  since  it  was 
at  a  convenient  distance  from  the  two  villages,  the  Bridge  and 
Mill  Village,  while  the  nature  of  its  environs  was  such  that  the 
erection  of  many  buildings  in  the  vicinity  seemed  improbable, 
quiet  and  an  ample  play-ground  thus  being  insured. 

There  was  a  disparity  in  the  financial  conditions  of  the  two 
sections  of  the.  district,  the  Bridge  portion  being  comparatively 
wealthy,  while  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  Mill  Village  were  poor. 
At  first  matters  were  quiet  and  harmonious.  Soon,  however, 
there  were  murmurings  of  dissatisfaction  because  the  money  of 
the  more  wealthy  was  educating  the  children  of  the  poor.  For 
this  there  was  only  one  remedy — a  division  of  the  district  on 
the  property  line.  Repeatedly  this  matter  was  brought  before  the 
town  by  petitions,  but  in  every  instance  the  petitioners  had  "leave 
to  withdraw."  Repeated  failure  brought  quiet.  The  population 
of  the  district  continued  to  increase,  and  about  1860  the  school- 
room, which  was  only  twenty-eight  feet  square,  became  much 
over-crowded,  the  school  sometimes  consisting  of  one  hundred 
pupils.  The  roof  and  other  wood  work  of  the  building  had  be- 
come much  decayed,  and  it  was  deemed  proper  to  erect  a  new 
schoolhouse  suitable  for  the  necessities  of  the  district.  At  a 
school-meeting  it  was  voted  to  build  on  the  lot  then  occupied 
by  the  district  a  school  building  two  stories  high,  with  Okie  room 
on  each  floor  in  which  could  be  held  graded  schools,  the  cost  of 
which,  as  guarranteed  by  responsible  persons,  should  not  exceed 
two  thousand  dollars.  A  building  committee  was  chosen,  con- 
sisting of  persons  living  in  different  parts  of  the  district. 


348  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Soon  agitation  in  relation  to  a  division  of  the  district  recom- 
menced. No  complaint  was  made  against  any  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  district,  old  or  young,  but  the  cry  was  against  the  projectors 
of  the  building  enterprise,  although  responsible  persons  were  ready 
to  guarantee  that  the  cost  of  the  school-house  should  not  exceed 
the  estimated  sum.  Some  persons,  who  were  really  opposed  to 
the  division  of  the  district,  became  so  alarmed  at  the  prospect  of 
high  taxes  that  they  voted  in  favor  of  the  measure.  By  methods 
which  it  is  better  to  let  the  pall  of  oblivion  cover,  the  seceders 
prevailed  notwithstanding  a  majority  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
district  voted  against  a  division. 

The  secession  of  the  more  wealthy  portion  of  its  inhabitants 
left  district  number  two  in  circumstances  peculiarly  difficult.  It 
was  probably  per  capita  the  poorest  district  in  Wolfeborough, 
although  in  the  aggregate  it  possessed  more  property  than  some 
of  the  smaller  ones.  It  had  been  made  the  unwilling  possessor 
of  a  partially  decayed  schoolhouse,  for  which  it  had  been  required 
to  pay  to  the  new  district  its  proportion  of  the  estimated  value. 
This  building  it  could  not  advantageously  repair,  remove,  occupy, 
or  utilize.  It  could  not  be  permanently  occupied  as  a  school- 
house,  as  it  stood  within  ten  rods  of  the  southern  terminal  of  the 
district,  while  the  homes  of  every  pupil  were  in  a  northerly  direc- 
tion ;  it  could  not  be  removed,  as  its  walls  were  of  brick ;  it  could 
not  be  repaired  and  used  for  any  other  purpose  than  a  school- 
house,  as  in  that  case  the  lot  would  be  forfeited. 

The  district  was  forced  to  make  a  virtue  of  necessity,  and  for 
a  short  time  a  school  was  kept  in  it,  although  the  decayed  roof 
threatened  danger  to  the  pupils.  It  was  afterwards  sold  at 
auction  for  old  brick.  As  soon  as  practicable,  arrangements  were 
made  to  build  a  new  schoolhouse.  A  lot  was  purchased  for 
seventy-five  dollars,  and  on  it  erected  a  schoolhouse  at  a  cost  of 
srxteen  hundred  dollars.  Enlarged  by  the  town  of  Wolfeborough, 
it  remains  an  evidence  of  the  correct  educational  sentiment  of  dis- 
trict number  two. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


349 


The  seceding  district  constructed  no  school  building,  but  de- 
pended on  renting  until  1878.  Like  all  events  occurring  in  human 
affairs  the  division  of  the  district  was  not  barren  of  fruitage.  It 
occasioned  animosities  of  long  continuance,  and  wounded  close 
friendships  that  were  never  healed.  It  is,  however,  proper  to  ob- 
serve that  some  of  the  more  considerate  promoters  of  the  act  ac- 
knowledged and  regretted  their  error,  and  later  invited  co- 
operative action  in  school  matters. 

School  district  number  one  was  settled  quite  uniformly,  and 
the  population  remained  quite  evenly  distributed  for  some  time. 
During  this  period  the  Blake  school-house  was  convenient  for  it. 
In  process  of  time,  however,  the  southern  part  became  quite 
populous,  while  the  inhabitants  in  the  northern  end  lessened 
somewhat.  It  was  then  claimed  that  it  was  unjust  to  require  the 
major  part  of  the  pupils  who  were  living  in  the  compact  part  of 
the  district  to  travel  so  far  to  school.  The  claim  was  admitted, 
and  the  district  divided.  The  Blake  school-house  was  removed 
nearer  to  the  village,  and  a  small  one  erected  for  district  number 
one.  Subsequently  the  new  districts,  seventeen  and  nineteen, 
with  a  portion  of  number  sixteen,  which  consisted  of  parts  of 
numbers  two  and  thirteen,  were  consolidated,  and  the  combina- 
tion was  called  district  number  seventeen.  In  1878  this  district 
obtained  possession  of  the  Academy  building  on  condition  that 
it  should  maintain  a  High  School.  This  it  did  by  taxation  and 
such  tuition  as  it  obtained  from  other  districts.  The  school  was  of 
respectable  grade  and  proved  quite  beneficial  to  the  town  until 
the  opening  of  the  Brewster  Free  Academy. 

School  district  number  twelve  was  located  between  Water 
Village  and  North  Wolfeborough,  and  number  eighteen  between 
the  Haines  Hill  and  Center  Wolfeborough.  They  were  both 
small. 

Great  improvements  has  been  made  in  the  schools  of  Wolfe- 
borough  during  the  last  thirty  years.  This  has  been  especially 
noticeable  since  John  Brewster  made  in  his  will  such  ample  pro- 


350 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


visions  for  educational  purposes.  In  1880  the  schools  in  districts 
numbered  two  and  seventeen  were  managed  by  boards  of  educa- 
tion. In  1886  the  town  system  of  schools  was  adopted,  and  they 
are  now  under  the  direction  of  a  school  board  of  three  persons 
elected  by  free  suffrage.  One  member  of  the  board  retires  each 
year,  the  place  being  filled  by  a  new  election  or  his  own  re- 
election. 

The  first  school  board  elected  consisted  of  George  A.  Haines 
for  three  years,  John  H.  Rust  for  two  years,  and  Thomas  Young 
for  one  year.  Since  then  the  following  persons  have  been  mem- 
bers of  the  board  for  periods  of  longer  or  shorter  duration,  al- 
though the  office  has  been  held  more  constantly  by  George  A. 
Haines  and  Albert  B.  Rust  than  the  others ;  viz.,  Everett  C.  Ban- 
field,  James  H.  Martin,  Charles  G.  Gate,  Albert  B.  Rust,  George 
A.  Haines,  Pierce  A.  Home,  Edwin  H.  Lord,  John  G.  Gate,  Ed- 
win W.  Junkins,  Jasper  H.  Warren,  Nathaniel  H.  Scott,  Fred  S. 
Libbey.  Each  member  receives  a  salary  of  seventy-five  dollars. 

Following  is  an  exhibit  of  the  schools  in  1900 : — 

RECEIPTS. 

Balance,  Cash  on  Hand,  March  3,  1900.  $947.43 
Amount  of  Appropriation  for  Schools,                               $3,270.00 

Amount  of  Appropriation  for  Supplies,  350.00 

Amount  of  Appropriation  for  Repairing  School  House,  75-OO 

Amount  of  Appropriation  for  Pickering  School  Fence,  25.00 

Amount  of  Appropriation  for  rent  of  School  Grounds,  43-5O 

Amount  Received  from  Dog  Licenses,  1899,  152.00 

Amount  Received  from  Literary  Fund,  176.00 

Amount  Received  from  Interest  on  School  Fund,  258.00 

Amount  Received  from  Brewster  Estate,  1.075.00 
Amount  Received  for  Tuition  for  Pupils  from  Other 

Towns,  5I-36 

Amount  Received  from  Sale  of  Supplies,  1.06 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


EXPENDITURES. 


351 


Amount  Paid  for  Salaries  of  Teachers,  $4,144.95 

Amount  Paid  for  Care  of  School  Buildings,  3 T  7-75 

Amount  Paid  for  Fuel,  284.00 

Amount  Paid  for  Repairs,  14348 

Amount  Paid  for  Supplies,  398.71 

Amount  Paid  for  Rent  of  School  Room  and  Land,  38.50 

Amount  Paid  for  Labor,  42.47 

Amount  Paid  for  Water  Rent,  20.00 

Amount  Paid  for  Conveying  Pupils,  181.50 

Amount  Paid  for  Sundries,  67.64 

Amount  Paid  on  Old  Account,  4.00 

Cash  on  Hand,  March  r,  1899,  781.35 


$6,424.35 
Total  Amount   Expended  for  School  Purposes  during 

the  Year,  $5,643.00 

Total  Number  of  Scholars  as  per  Last  Enumeration,  371 
Total  Expense  per  scholar  for  the  Year,  $15-21 

The  number  of  different  teachers  employed  during  the  year 
was  twenty,  thirteen  of  whom  were  residents  of  the  town  of 
Wolfeborough.  Salaries  of  from  twenty-eight  to  forty  dollars  per 
month  were  received  except  in  the  case  of  the  teacher  of  the 
Grammar  School,  who  received  $60.60.  Here  follows  a  list  of 
the  teachers  and  the  locality  of  the  schools : — 

Pickering  schoolhouse,  Smith's  Bridge,  Ena  A.  Maxwell, 
Emma  Wiggin,  Eleanor  L.  Hawkesworth,  J.  Maude  Taylor ; 
Wolfeborough  Falls,  Zada  B.  Furber,  Alice  B.  Glines ;  South 
Wolfeborough,  Nellie  T.  Graves,  Grace  E.  Harden ;  Wolfe- 
borough  Center,  Pierce  A.  Home :  North  \Volfeborough  Jose- 
phine1 A.  Connors:  Whitton,  Josephine  B.  Saunders ;  Cotton  Val- 
ley. Alta  M.  Home:  Pine  Hill.  Alice  M.  Given:  Pleasant  Valley, 
Bertha  M.  Young :  Highland.  Grace  M.  Morgan. 


352 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


When  schools  first  began  to  be  taught  in  Wolfeborough,  only 
male  teachers  were  employed.  Gradually,  however,  women  en- 
tered the  ranks,  and  in  a  few  decades  had  charge  of  most  of  the 
summer  schools.  It  will  be  observed  in  the  exhibit  of  1840  that 
they  also  taught  some  of  the  smaller  winter  schools.  Now  they 
are  almost  invariably  the  teachers  of  Wolfeborough  schools. 
One  reason  why  men  only  were  employed  as  teachers  was  that 
they  were  better  educated  than  women.  Schools  were  also 
chiefly  governed  by  physical  force,  and  where  the  rod  and  the 
ferule  held  sway,  it  was  an  advantage  for  a  teacher  to  be  a  vigor- 
ous athlete.  For  teaching  the  schools  of  to-day  whose  methods 
of  government  are  so  different  from  those  of  our  fathers,  women 
are  particularly  well  adapted. 

Very  early  in  the  last  century  Jacob  Haines  and  others  peti- 
tioned the  selectmen  to  employ  a  female  teacher  for  district  num- 
ber eight,  and  Daniel  Brewster  and  others  asked  that  sewing 
might  be  allowed  in  district  number  two.  The  first  district  to 
purchase  a  stove  was  North  Wolfeborough. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

EARLY  BANNS — MARRYING  AND  GIVING  IN  MARRIAGE  IN  THE 
OLD  DAYS. 

THIS   chapter  contains   a  record  of  the   banns   published  in 
Wolfeborough  between  the  years  1789  and   1854.     It  will 
probably  be  used  for  reference  as  much  as  any  other  in  the  book, 
as  by  it  family  relationships  can  be  traced. 

1789.  Nov.  2.6,  John    Snell  and    Elizabeth    Williams,  both    of 

Wolfeborough. 

Dec.    14,  Samuel  Abbott,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Anna 
Varney,  of  Wolfeborough. 

1790.  Nov.  22,  Ebenezer  Plaice,  of  New  Durham    Gore,  and 

Mary  Hurd,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  8,  John  Edmonds,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Lydia  Copp, 
of  Tuftonborough. 

1791.  Jan.  n,  Nehemiah  Lucas,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Hannah 

Wiggin,  of  Stratham. 
March  15,  Thomas  Cotton  and  Martha  Furber,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
May  9,  Grafton  Nutter,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Elizabeth 

Fullerton,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Sept.  24,  James  McDuffee,  of  New   Durham  Gore,  and 

Eleanor  Connor,  of  Wolfeborough. 

1792.  Nov.    15,  John   Swazey  and   Sarah    Goldsmith,   both   of 

Wrolfeborough. 

Dec.  27,  Walter  Avery,  of  Parsonsfield,  Mass.,  and  Mary 
Wiggin,  of  Ossipee. 

353 


354 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUQH. 


1793.  March  7,  Dudley  Hardy,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Hannah 

Johnson,  of  Middleton. 

Apr.  1 8,  Moses  Wig-gin  and  Molly  Clifford,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug.  24,  Chase  Wiggin,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Nancy 
Calder,  of  Middleton. 

Nov.  19,  Jonathan  Tibbetts  and  Catherine  Goldsmith, 
both  of  Wolfeborough. 

1794.  Feb.  11,  Andrew  Wiggin,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Nancy 

Barker,  of  Stratham. 

Mar.  24,  Chase  Wiggin,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mary  Nut- 
ter, of  Tuftonborough. 

May  — ,  George  Warren  and  Elizabeth  Leavitt,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr.  — ,  William  Goldsmith  and  Sally  Haines,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Aug.  27,  Edward  Leavitt,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Hannah 
Sias,  of  Ossipee. 

Nov.  24,  Thomas  Valentine  Wormwood,  of  Durham,  and 
Polly  Drew,  of  Wolfeborough. 

1795.  May  8,  Josiah  Evans,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Lydia  Evans, 

of  New  Durham. 
May  18,  John  Wentworth  Fernald  and  Polly  Fernald,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Dec.  — ,  William  Copp,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Elisabeth 

Blake,  of  Wolfeborough. 

1796.  Tan.  9,  George  Brewster  and  Dorcas  Holt,  both  of  Wolfe- 

borough. 

Jan.  18,  Love  Key,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Molly  Fogg, 
of  Berwick,  Mass. 

Jan.  23,  William  Drew  and  Sally  Thomas,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


355 


Sep.  19,  James  Gate  and  Betsy  Furbur,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Sep.  21,  Isaac  Townsend  and  Lydia  Evans,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov.  7,  Rev.  Ebenezer  Allen  and  Betsy  Fernald,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  7,  Josiah  Moody,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Susannah 
Everson  Tebbetts,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  16,  Jonathan  Blake  and  Polly  Lucas,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov.  16,  Josiah  Frost  and  Nancy  Allen,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov.  16,  Joshua  Mclntire,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Polly 
Hurd,  of  Wolfeborough. 

1797.  Oct.   9,   Moses   Thurston,   of  Wolfeborough,   and   Betsy 

Wiggin,  of  Stratham. 
Nov.  20,  Cornelius  Jenness  and  Deborah  Chesley,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Dec.   5,   Andrew  Jewett,  of  Wolfeborough,   and  Joanna 

Hobbs,  of  Dover. 

1798.  Feb.    17,   James    Cotton,   of  Wolfeborough,    and    Betsy 

Robinson,   of    Brookfield. 

Jul.  15.  Wilmot  Bickford,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Dorothy 
Land,  of  Dover. 

Oct.  9,  Richard  Tibbetts  and  Sally  Young,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Oct.  10,  Timothy  W.  Young,  of  Tuftonborough,  and 
Esther  Libbey,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  10,  James  Marden,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sally  Wat- 
son, of  Rochester. 

Nov.  15,  Thomas  Wiggin,  of  Brookfield,  and  Nancy 
Drew,  of  Wolfeborough. 


356 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Dec.  5,  William  Nudd  and  Polly  Moore,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Dec.  10,  John  Edmonds,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Molly 
Brown,  of  Tuftonborough. 

1799.  Feb.  7,  Joseph   Keniston,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Susan 

Brown,  of  Chester. 

Jan.  9,  David  Wentworth,  of  Alton,  and  Mary  Smith,  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Feb. 7,  Isaac  Cotton  and  Else  Marden,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Feb.  7,  George  O.  Cotton  and  Sally  Wiggin,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Feb.  7,  Jonathan  Bickford,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Abigail 
Roberts,  of  Dover. 

Jun.  5,  Dr.  Thomas  Saltmarsh,  of  New  Durham,  and 
Betsy  Evans,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Oct.  i,  Benjamin  Evans  and  Hannah  Lucas,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  7,  Benjamin  Brown  Whitten  and  Phoebe  Rollins, 
both  of  Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  23.  Jeremiah  Clifford,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sally 
Williams,  of  Ossipee. 

Dec.  23,  Peter  Key  and  Betsy  Coleman,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

1800.  Jan.  9,  Thomas  Perkins,  of  Ossipee,  and  Mehitable  Gold- 

smith, of  Wolfeborough. 
Jan.  14,  William  Fullerton  and  Maribah  Stanley,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Jan.  20,  Timothy  Piper,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Hannah 

Neal,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Jan.   27,   John   Jenness,   of  Wolfeborough,   and    Hannah 

Tuttle,  of  Brookfield. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  357 

Jan.   28,    Nathaniel   Fernald,   of   Brookfield,   and  'Polly 
Coleman,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Col.  William  Cotton  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Ruth  Page, 
of  Wakefield,  legally  published. 

Jan.  29,  Moses  Thompson,  of  Deerfield,  and  Sally  Fox, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

May  — ,  Samuel  Connor  and  Polly  Evans,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

June  15,  Hiram  Hodge,  of  Brookfield,  and  Betsy  Keay, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  22,  Isaac  Martin  and  Lois  Fernald,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

1801.     Jan.  15,  Samuel  Varney,  of  Rochester,  and  Letty  Clifford, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Feb.  7,  Samuel  Hersey  and  Sally  Shorey,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Feb.  28,  Moses  Muzzey,  of  Bradford,  Vermont,  and  Han- 
nah Prebble,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Apr.  4,  Thomas  Nock  and  Lydia  Tibbetts,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug.   29,  Paul   Nute  and   Sarah   Frost,  both   of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug.  29,  James  Fernald,  of  Brookfield,  and  Betsy  Bracket! 
Wiggin,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Sep.  21,  John  Brackett,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Betsy  Fol- 
som,  of  New  Market. 

Sep.  21,  William  Young,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sally  Bur- 
leigh,  of  Ossipee. 

Sep.  21,  Lemuel  Drew,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Polly  War- 
ren, of  Tuftonborough. 

Sep.   21,   Gardner   Brown   of   Tuftonborough,   and   Ruth 

Moore,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Aug.  8,  Samuel  Marden,  of  Jefferson,  and  Hannah  Dodge 
Frost,  of  Wolfeborough. 


358  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

Nov.  27,  Rufus  Wiggin,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Lydia 
Edgerly,  of  Durham. 

1802.  Jan.  14,  Noah  Haines,  of  Rumney,  and  Betsy  Nudd,  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Mar.  25,    Rufus  Wiggin,  of  Wolfeborough,    and   Betsy 

Berry,  of  New  Durham. 
Nov.    24,    Levi    Hide,      of    Wolfeborough,      and    Betsy 

Gould,  of  Ossipee. 

1803.  Feb.  24,  Thomas   Frost,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Peggy 

WTeeks,  of  Wakefield. 

Jan.  28,  Tilly  Lary,  of  Eaton,  and  Molly  Tibbetts,  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr.  9,  Jacob  Nutter  and  Betsy  Clifford,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug.  — ,  Joseph  Frost  and  Diadema  Fernald,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  1 6,  Joseph  Jenness,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Betsy 
Weeks,  of  Wakefield. 

Nov.  n,  Benjamin  Home,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Judith 
Wiggin,  of  Stratham. 

Nov.  15,  William  Guppy,  and  Sally  Marden,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  15,  John  Rogers  and  Nancy  Tibbetts,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov.  15,  Samuel  Meder  and  Eleanor  Rogers,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  — ,  John  Piper  and  Nancy  Young,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

1804.  Feb.  — ,  Capt.  Reuben  Libbey,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mrs. 

Abigail  Smith,  of  Durham. 
Jan.  — ,  Thomas  W.  Chase,  of  Alton,  and  Nancy  Chase,  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Feb.  24,  John  Wiggin,  of  Portsmouth,  and  Polly  Wiggin, 

of  Wolfeborough. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  359 

Feb.  Henry  Rust  Parker  and  Hannah  Home  Rust,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Feb.  25,  Joseph  Ellis,  of  Middleton,  and  Dolly  Willey, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

May  24,  Samuel  Hide,  Jr.,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sally 
Taylor,  of  Ossipee. 

Apr.  22,  Samuel  Mason  and  Betsy  Lucas,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Oct.  10,  James  Hersey  and  Nancy  Lucas,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov.  14,  Matthias  Ham,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Abigail 
Hawkins,  of  Wakefield. 

1805.  Jan.  26,  Oliver  Smith,  of  Alton,  and  Hannah  Kent,  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Apr.   3,  James  Johnson,   of  New   Durham,  and  Huldah 

Brackett,  of  Wolfeborough. 
May  9,  Levi  Weeks,  of  Wakefield,  and  Betsy  Willey,  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Jul.  21,  William  Mallard,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Betsy 

Fullerton,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Aug.  5,  Samuel  Tibbetts,  Jr.,  and  Fannie  Goldsmith,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Nov.  29,   Ebenezer  Meder,  of  Wolfeborough,  and   Miss 

Sarah  Young,  of  Durham. 
Dec.  20,  Nehemiah  Lucas,  and  Nancy  Marden,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 

1806.  Mar.  20,  George  G.  Young,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Elea- 

nor Sceggel,  of  Ossipee. 

May  29,  Elijah  Estes,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Patty 
Roberts,  of  Ossipee. 

Jun.  4,  George  Whitton,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mrs. 
Esther  Gage,  of  Wakefield. 

Jun.  4.  John  Haines  and  Martha  Nudd,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 


360  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Jun.   12,  Stephen   Piper,  and  Hannah  Whitten,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jul.  10,  Joseph  Kelly  and  Hannah  Clifford,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug.  n,  Samuel  Piper,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mary  Hoyt, 
of  Stratham. 

Oct.   26,   Isaac  Drew,  Jr.,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mehi- 
table  Leighton,  of  Ossipee. 

Oct.  27,  Henry  Allard  and  Betsy  Neal,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Dec.  — ,  William  Tibbetts,  of  Brookfield,  and  Polly  White- 
house,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Oct.  27,  Richard  Rust  and  Sally  Thurston,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

1807.     Feb.   8.    Nathaniel   Chase  and   Susannah   Rust,   both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Mar.    10,   Samuel  Young,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Nancy 
Burleigh,  of  Ossipee. 

Mar.   25,   Capt.  Joseph    Furbur,   of  Wolfeborough,   and 
Sally  Folsom,  of  New  Market. 

Mar.  30,  William  Lear,  of  Ossipee,  and  Keziah  Glover,  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr.  18,  Samuel  Jenness  and  Sally  Melvin,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug.   22,  Timothy  Tucker,  of  AVolfeborough,  and  Mary 
Crockett,  of  Ossipee. 

July  5,  John  Furbur  and  Betsy  Leavitt,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Sep.  7,  Jeremiah  Drew,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Anna  War- 
ren, of  Tuftonborough. 

Sep.    14,    Richard    Nudd   and    Eleanor   Haines,    both   of 
Wolfeborough. 

Sep.  14,  James  Chamberlin,  Jr.,  of  Brookfield,  and  Betsy 
Ann  Rust,  of  Wolfeborough. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  361 

Dec.  5,  John  Nutter,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Sally  Wig- 
gin,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  17,  Ichabod  Tibbetts  and  Anna  Nute,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

1808.  Jan.  14,  Samuel  Frost,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Olive  Jack- 

son, of  Eaton. 

Apr.  24,  John  Kent,  of  Durham,  and  Susannah  Leavitt, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Jul.  19,  Nathaniel  Cook,  of  Wakefield,  and  Joanna  Cook, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  1 6,  Henry  Rust  and  Nancy  Norris,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov.  17,  Joseph  Kent  and  Polly  Lucas,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Dec.  25,  Isaac  Willey  and  Polly  Triggs,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Dec.  29,  Tobias  Pray,  of  Brookfield,  and  Polly  Young, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

1809.  Jan.  20,  Morgan  Lewis,  of  Alford,  and  Susannah  Shorey, 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Apr.  24,  Samuel  Cotton,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sally  Fer- 

nald,  of  Brookfield. 
Aug.    15,  Adam  Taft  Brown  and  Sally   Brown,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Aug.  28,  James  Haines,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Hannah 

Lord,  of  Parsonsfield. 
Sep.  20,  Thomas  Harden,  of  Jefferson,  and  Polly  Rust, 

of  \Volfeborough. 
Oct.  30,  Abraham   Doe,  of  Alton,  and  Nancy   Kent,  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Nov.  9,  Joshua  Wingate  Chase  and  Ruth  Home,  both 

of  Wblfeborough. 
Nov.  — ,  James  Jenness,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sally  Cal- 

der,  of  Brookfield. 


-562  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

1810.  Mar.  i,  Richard  Rust  and  Mrs.  Joanna  Jewett,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 

1811.  Mar.  18,  Jacob  Stanton,  of  Brookfield,  and  Sukey  Fernald, 

of  Wolfeborough. 

Apr.  25,  John  Lucas,  Jr.,  and  Polly  Rust,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug.  8,  James  Lucas  3d,  and  Eleanor  Rust,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug.  12,  Isaac  Clough,  of  Parsonsfield,  and  Lydia  Whit- 
ten,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Sep.  12,  William  Chamberlain  and  Betsy  Adams  Home, 
both  of  Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  15,  Jeremiah  Connor  and  Abigail  Wiggin,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

1812.  Nov.    12,   Stephen   Whitten   and   Eunice  Earle,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  6,  Tilly  Lary  and  Ruth  Brown,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Apr.  29,  Samuel  Chesley,  of  Farmington,  and  Polly  Fur- 
bur,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Jul.  8,  James  Perkins  and  Huldah  Seavey,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug.  10,  James  Burke  and  Hannah  French,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov.  12,  Charles  Wiggin  and  Abigail  Meder,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  12,  James  Doe  and  Lydia  Kent,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

May  26,  Benjamin  Edmunds,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Han- 
nah Merrill,  of  South  Hampton. 

Aug.  10,  Parker  Whittle  and  Hannah  Goldsmith,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

1813.  Feb.  18,  Benjamin  Sceggel,  of  Ossipee,  and  Mary  Young, 

of  Wolfeborough. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  363 

Mar.  n,  John  Hersey  and  Ruth  Nudd,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Apr.  5,  John  Furbur  and  Hannah  Yeaton,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

May  23,  Samuel  Sweat,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mehitable 
Neal,  of  Tuftonborough. 

1814.  Jan.  6,  Thomas  Blaisdell,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Polly 

Hersey,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Jan.  26,  Isaac  Edmunds  and  Betsy  Calder,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Mar.  6,  Eleazer  Ham,  of  Rochester,  and  Susanna  Wiggin, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Mar.  13,  Ivory  Brackett,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sally 
Willey,  of  Brookfield. 

Sept.  29,  Tristram  Nute  and  Pamela  Cotton,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  i,  William  Wiggin  and  Dolly  Snell,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

1815.  Feb.  15,  Oilman  Folsom  and  Mary  Rust,  both  of  Wolfe- 

borough. 

Feb.  15,  Nathaniel  Rogers  and  Martha  Rust,  both  of 
Wblfeborough. 

Apr.  1 6,  Stephen  W.  Home  and  Mary  F.  Calder,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Jun.  i,  Adelphia  Ricker,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Betsy 
Pierce,  of  Lebanon. 

Jun.  27,  John  Home,  Jr.  and  Harriet  S.  Orne,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  8,  Phineas  Weeks  and  Patty  Cotton,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov.  13,  Joseph  Nay,  of  Ossipee,  and  Mary  Haines,  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  13,  James  Taylor  and  Dorcas  Lear,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 


364  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

Nov.   13,   Mark  W.  Plummer  and  Sally  M.   Lary,  both 
of  Wolfehorough. 

Nov.  20,  Isaiah  G.  Orne,  Esq.  and  Sarah  Raynard,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  8,  Thomas  Chamberlin  and  Mary  Rogers,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  i,  Henry  Rust  3d  and  Pamelia  Home,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Dec.  29,  John  Smith  and  Betsy  Norriss,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

1816.  Jan  4,  Thomas  Baker  and  Miriam  Whitten,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jan.  21,  Nathaniel  Rust  and  Lydia  Folsom,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Feb.  26,   Benjamin  Tibbetts   and   Abigail   Doe,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Mar.  27,  George  Drew  and  Julian  Yeaton,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Apr.  4,  Samuel  Nudd  and  Nancy  Perkins,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Apr.  22,  John  Home  3d,  and  Dorothy  Willey,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr.  — ,  William  Triggs  and  Anna  Maleham,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

May    19,   John   W.   Home   and   Susey   Wiggin,   both   of 
Wolfeborough. 

May  19,  Elisha  Dow,  of  Gilford,  and  Betsy  Prescott,  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jun.  1 6,  Joseph  Piper  and  Betsy  Shorey,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jun.  24,  Ezekiel  Key  and  Nancy  Young,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jul.  3,  Stephen  Tibbetts  and  Sally  Stratton,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borougfh. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


365 


Aug.  25,  John  Tuttle  and  Lucy  Young,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 
Aug.  25,  Charles  Giles,  of  Brookfield,  and  Mary  Warren, 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Nov.   12,  Sargeant  Kimball,  of  Holderness,  and  Abigail 

Shortridge,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Nov.  26,  Daniel  Pike,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Lavina  Wal- 

lingford,  of  Dover. 
Dec.   12,  Joseph   Young,    of  Wolfeborough,    and   Betsy 

Hodgdon,  of  Ossipee. 
1817.     Feb.  i,  Doct.  Thomas  J.  Tebbetts  and  Bets  Ann  Allen, 

both  of  Wolfeborough. 

Feb.  4,  Walter  Avery  and  Sally  Cotton,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 
Feb.  28,  Wentworth  Butler,  of  Berwick,  and  Mehkable 

1'ebbetts,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Mar.   i,    Joseph    Edmonds  and    Mary   Folsom,    both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Apr.  7,   Valentine  Willey  and  Abigail  Prebble,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Apr.  8,    Zebulon    Home  and    Hannah  Varney,    both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Apr.  25,   Daniel  White  and  Drussilla  Witharn,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Apr.  28,  James  Fullerton  and  Sophia  B.  Wiggin,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
May  8,  Janathan  Bean,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Sally  Keay, 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Jul.    n,  Joshua  Brewster,    of  Rochester,    and   Elizabeth 

Shortridge,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Oct.  21,  John  Whittle,  of  New  Boston,  and  Betsy  Thurs- 

ton,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Oct.   13,    Benjamin  Nudd  and    Hannah  Nudd,    both  of 

Wolfeborough. 


366  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Oct.  23,  Benjamin  Smith,  of  Ossipee,  and  Betsy  Young, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Oct.  23,  Isaac  Stanton,  of  Brookfield,  and  Sally  Hardy, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  6,  Daniel  W.  Wiggin,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Eliza 
Keys,  of  Green,  Me. 

Nov.  6,  Caleb  Weeks,  of  Wakefield,  and  Patience  Dudley, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  6,  John  W.  Yeaton,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Nancy 
Stevenson,  of  New  Durham. 

Dec.  15,  John  Kurd,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Molly  Clif- 
ford, of  Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  15,  John  H.  Drew  and  Abigail  Kent,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

1818.  Jan.    12,     Henry   Veasey,   of  Tuftonborough,    and   Lois 

Allen,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Mar.    19,   Major   Dudley   Hardy,   of  Wolfeborough,   and 

Abigail  Hardy,  of  Kennebunk. 
Mar.  19,  Ebenezer  Jndkins  and  Abigail  Yeaton,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 

Moses   Cate,   of  Brookfield,   and   Abigail   Brewster,  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Mar.  18,  Silas  Tebbetts,  of  Rochester,  and  Abigail  Nudd, 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Mar.  30,  Nathaniel  Young,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Patty 

Roberts,  of  Ossipee. 
Aug.  2,  John   Drew,  Jr.  and   Nancy  Thurston,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Oct.  8,  Thomas  Triggs,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Olive  L. 

Maleham,  of  Wakefield. 

Oct.  — ,  Josiah  Cotton  and  Lydia  Doe,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

1819.  Feb.  3,  Hezekiah  Tebbetts  and  Rachael  Burke,  both  of 

Wolfeboroucrh. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  367 

Dec.  31,  Stephen  Connor  and  Mrs.  Abigail  Triggs,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Mar.  i,  John  Neal,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Abigail  Her- 
sey,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Mar.    19,  William   Rust,    of  Wolfeborough,    and   Nancy 
Wedgewood,  of  Parsonsfield. 

Mar.  9,  James  Cotton  and  Jane  Edgerly,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

May  29,  James  Stevenson,  of  Glover,  and  Polly  Drew,  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jul.  13,  Adam  Brown,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Susan  Plum- 
mer,  of  Milton. 

Sep.   i,  James  Ricker,  of  Dover,  and  Elisabeth  Whitten, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Oct.  28,  James  Folsom  and  Sally  Rust,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov.  24,  Jeremiah  Wiggin  and  Mrs.  Hannah  Nudd,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 

1820.     Jan.  4,  James  Smith  and  Mary  Young,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Mar.   20,   Samuel   Tebbetts   and  Sally   Fernald,   both   of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jan.  — ,  Samuel  Xutt  and  Sally  Wentworth,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Apr.   12,  Nathaniel  Rust  and  Fanny  A.  Wiggin,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

May    19,   Jonathan    Hersey   and   Mrs.    Susannah    Moody, 
both  of  Wolfeborough. 

Jun.   30,    Colonel    Josiah     Chamberlin,     Brookfield,    and 
Betsy  Guppy,  of  Wolfeborough. 

June  23,  Joseph  Morgan  and  Polly  Cotton,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jun.  26.  Lewis  Hayes,  of  Milton,  and  Sarah  M.  Clark,  of 
Wolfeborousrh 


368  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

Jnn.  29,  James  Shortridge  and  Polly  Nutt,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jun.  29,  Oliver  Copp  and  Polly  Home,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug.  8,  Deering  Stoddard  and  Mrs.  Margaret  Raynard, 
both  of  Wolfeborough. 

Sep.  4,  Joseph  Haines,  Jr.  and  Elizabeth  Lucas,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Oct.  9,  Enoch  Dunn,  of  Dover,  and  Eliza  Fullerton,  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Oct.    16,  Joseph   Colby,   of  Newfield,   Me.,  and   Hannah 
Lary,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Oct.  23,  Joseph  Wiggin  and  Abigail  Snell,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov.  1 8,  Moses  C.  Piper  and  Eunice  Baker,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Dec.   ii,  Davis  Kenerson,  of  New  Durham,  and  Abigail 
Moody,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  18,  Jonathan  Chase,  of  Alton,  and  Abigail  Meserve, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  18,  Jonathan  Morrison,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Bel- 
inda Libbey,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  27,  John  Folsom  and  Hannah  Blake,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

1821.     Jan.  8,  Samuel  Houghton,  of  Fairlee,  Vermont,  and  Mary 
Tebbetts  of  Wolfeborough. 

Jan.  — ,  Daniel  \Vingate,  of  Farmington,  and  Sarah  Wig- 
gin,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Jan.  — ,  Stephen  Stratton  and  Juda  Tebbetts,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Feb.  28,  Joseph  Hayes,  of  Alton,  and  Betsy  Brewster,  of 
Wolfeborough. 

May  21,  Jonathan  P.  Fernald,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mary 
Pike,  of  Middleton. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  369 

Sep  i,  John  Gate,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Hannah  Giles, 
of  Brookfield. 

Sept.  i,  Joseph  Young  and  Susannah  Key,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Sep.  3,  Thomas  Varney,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Eleanor 
Tabor,  of  Berwick,  Me. 

Oct.   10,  John  A.  Wiggin,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Susan 
Wiggm,  of  Tuftonborough. 

Nov.  14,  Robert  Coleman,  of  Chichester,  and  Nancy  Phil- 
brick,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Nov.    14,  James   Furnald,  of  Wolfeborough,   and   Mary 
Hodge,  of  Brookfield. 

Nov.  16,  David  Fullerton  and  Hannah  Tebbetts,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 

1822.     Jan.  7,  William  Fullerton,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Abigail 
Piper,  of  Tuftonborough. 

Jan.  — ,  John  Phenix,  Philips,  Me.,  and  Celia  Libbey,  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Feb.    25,    John    Towle,    of  Wolfeborough,  and    Louise 
Roberts,  of  Ossipee. 

Feb.   25,   Moses    Edgerly,   of  Wolfeborough,    and   Sally 
Stillings,  of  Ossipee. 

Mar.  4,  Samuel    Meder,  and    Lydia  Fullerton,    both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

May  27,  Johnson  Brown  and  Olive  Nute,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jun.  i,  John  Locke,  of  Wakefield,  and  Elisabeth  Fernald, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Jun.  18,  Daniel  Pickering  and  Sarah  S.  C.  Farrar,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

July  2,  Joseph  Frost  and  Elisabeth  Chamberlin,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jul.  25,  Bartholomew  Oilman  and  Eliza  Wiggin,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 


370 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Aug.  20,  Joshua  Hodsdon,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Priscilla 
Canney,  of  Ossipee. 

Sep.  15,  Jonathan  Tibbetts  and  Mehitable  Perkins,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Oct.  2,  William  Pinkham,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Martha 
Hill  of  Wakefield. 

Nov.  12,  James  T.  Home,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sophia 
Nute,  of  Madbury. 

Nov.  12,  Robert  Wiggin  and  Dolly  Maria  Craton,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Oct.  30,  James  Keay  and  Elizabeth  Lary,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov.  27,  John  Lary  and  Lydia  Stackpole,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

1823.    Feb.  — ,  Samuel  Hayes,  of  Alton,  and  Margaret  G.  Brews- 
ter,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Feb  5,  Nathaniel  Home,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Caroline 
Piper,  of  Strathanu 

Mar.  9,  George  F.  Brewster,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Joan 
D.  Home,  of  Farmington. 

Mar.  10,  Joshua  Stackpole,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Hannah 
Mardin,  of  Tuftonborough. 

Mar.   10,    Thomas  Rust  and    Phoebe  C.   Piper,    both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Mar.  12,  Moses  Wiggin  and  Eunice  Home,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Mar.  3,  Stephen  Giles,  of  Brookfield,  and  Statira  Edgerly, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Apr.    17,    Matthias   Haines    and  Eliza  Wiggin,    both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr.  23,  Ebenezer  Allen  and  Mary  F.  Nute,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jun.  15,  Josiah  Willey,  Jr.  and  Abigail  Tibbetts,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


371 


Jun.  24,  Napoleon  B.  Home  and  Deborah  Burley,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Jun.  25,  Nathaniel  F.  Wiggin  and  Abigail  Oilman,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Aug.   n,  Thomas  B.  Wiggin  and  Judith  Bickford,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Aug.   n,   Benjamin   Warren  and   Mercy  Davis,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Sep.  8,  Samuel  Tibbetts,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Joanna 

Meder,  of  Tamworth. 

Sep.  27,  John  Keay  and  Abigail  Mardin,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 
Sep.  — ,  Henry  B.  Rust  and  Hannah  S.  Jewett,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Nov.  6,  Timothy  Watson,  of  Wakefield,  and  Sally  Willey, 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Aug.  22,  Capt.  Aaron  Roberts  and  Mary  Bickford,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Dec.  23,  Joseph  Severance,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Mary 

Moody,  of  Wrolfeborough. 
Dec.   13,    James  Rogers    and  Clarissa  Wiggin,    both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Dec.   25,   Robert   Martin,  of  Brookfield,  and  Julia   Ann 

Huggins,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Dec.  30,  Richard  Rust,  Esq.,  and  Mrs.  Eleanor  Piper,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  30,  Asa  Ham  and    Sally    Mardin.  both    of    Wolfe- 
borough. 
1824.    Jan.    16,   Jonathan   Brown,   of   Wolfeborough,  and   Mary 

Chase,  of  Alton. 
Feb.  8,  Ebenezer  Corson,  of  New  Durham,  and  Margaret 

R.  Davis,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Mar.  15,  Levi  Towle,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sally  Dudley, 

of  Alton. 


372 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Mar.  29,  Benjamin  Ricker  and  Susanna  Fogg,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr.  21,  George  W.  Warren,  Jr.,  of  Wolfeborough,  and 
Mary  F.  Allard,  of  Brookfield. 

May   19,  Mark  Lucas  and  Betsy  Fogg,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jun.   3,  James  Thurston  and   Martha  Furbush,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jul.  4,   Charles   W.    Baker,  of   Brookfield,   and   Hannah 
Whitten,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Jul.  4,  George  Folsom  and  Clarissa  Lee,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jul.  24,  Samuel  Fernald    and    Hannah    Home,    both    of 
Wolfeborough. 

Sep.    18,   Asa   Moody  and   Lois   Mardin,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov.   13,  Obadiah  Stoddard    and    Sally    Eaton,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  13,  Calvin  Corson,  of  New  Durham,  and  Lucinda  B. 
Seavey,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Dec.   16,  Dudley  Chamberlin,  Jr.  and  Lydia  N.  Wiiley, 

both  of  Wolfeborough. 

1825.    Jan.  3,  George  Drew  and  Alice  Cotton,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jan  3,  Benjamin  F.  Thompson  and  Mary  F.  Brewster,  both 
of  W'olfeborough. 

Jan.  4,  Henry  Home,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Nancy  Nute, 
of  Madbury. 

Mar.  21,  Joseph  Hurd,  of  Dover,  and  Farragina  Bickford, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Mar.  25,  Thomas  Blake,  of  Wakefield,  and  Abigail  Hardy, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Mar.  26,  Isaiah  Mclntire,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Sarah 
Ann  N.  Stevens,  of  Wolfeborough. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  373 

Apr.  25,  Levi  Cooper  and  Nancy  Drew,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

May  1 8,  Jesse  Whitten  and  Betsy  Drew,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jun.  18,  Joseph  Moulton,  of  Ossipee,  and  Temperance  Cot- 
ton, of  Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  21,  Ira  Cook  and  Hannah  Cotton,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov.  22,  Stephen  Mclntire  and  Pamela  Welch,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  3,  Andrew  W.  Weymouth  and  Mary  Lary,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  5,  John  T.  Parker    and    Sally    L.    Seavey,  both   of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  25,  Jonathan  Kurd,  of  Ossipee,  and  Abigail  Tibbetts, 

of  Wolfeborough. 

1826.    Jan.  10,  Alpheus  Swett  and  Susan  Rogers,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jan.  22,  Jonathan  Hersey  and  Abigail  Keniston,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Mar.  1 8,  William  Thompson  and  Nancy  Rogers,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Mar.  20,  David  Tappan  Allen  and  Rosamond  Key,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr.  20,  Bradbury  Edgerly,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mary 
Cate,  of  Brookfield. 

May  29,    Jeremiah   Emerson,    of  Wakefield,    and   Mary 
Huckins,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Jun.  4,  John  P.  Morrison,  of  Fairlee,  Vt.,  and  Mehitable 

Tibbetts,  of  Wolfeborough. 

'  Jun.   8,  Enoch   M.   Clark,   of  Wolfeborough,   and   Sarah 
Hayes,  of  Milton. 

July   17,  Daniel   Brevvster,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sarah 
McDuffee,  of  Alton. 


374 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Aug.  28,  Levi  Tibbetts,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Mrs.  Char- 
lotte Clark,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Aug.  30,  Moses  P.  Brown,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Lydia 
V.  Quarles,  of  Ossipee 

Aug.  25,  James  Cotton  and  Abigail  Knowles,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Oct.  27,  William  Towle  and  Ruth  L.  Dow,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov.  18,  William  W.  Cook,  of  Milton,  and  Mary  Yeaton, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  22,  David  Page  and  Eliza  Cotton,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov.  30.  George  Whitehouse  and  Louisa  Tibbetts,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

1826.  Dec.    15,    John   Fox,   of  Wolfeborough,    and    Elizabeth 

A.  Copp,  of  Tuftonborough. 

1827.  Jan.  31,  Elijah  Home  and  Abigail  Mason,  both  of  Wolfe- 

borough. 

Feb.  21,  Doct.  Joseph  Edgerly  and  Sally  W.  Furbur,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

March  3,  Joel  Cook  and  Mrs.  Mary  Cotton,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Mar.  3,  Daniel  Deland  and  Sarah  Ann  Estes,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Mar.  31,  Robert  I.  Clark  and  Rachel  French,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr.  15,  Daniel  Burke  and  Sally  W.  Ellis,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Apr.  23,  Daniel  Drew,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Ann  Worm- 
wood, of  Wakefield. 

May  30,  William  Whitehouse,  of  Wolfeborough,  and 
Sophia  Hartford,  of  Stratford. 

May  29,  James  Nnte.  Jr.,  and  Mary  Nudd,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


375 


Sep.  i,  William  T.  Gate,  of  Brookfield,  and  Betsy  Gate,  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Sep.  i,  Dudley  Libbey,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sarah  Ann 

Wiggin,  of  Tuftonborough. 
Sep.    10,  James  Towner,  of  W'olfeborough,  and  Harriet 

Goit,  of  Burlington,  Vt. 

Sep.  25,  Hale  Young  and  Sophronia  Nudd,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 
Oct.  4,  Charles  Stackpole  and  Hannah  T.  Lucas,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Oct.   13,  Jonathan  Copp  and  Hannah  Stoddard,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Dec.  5,  Joseph  Johnson  and  Lurannah  Whitten,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 

Dec.   10,  Isaac  Willey  and  Mary  Willey,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 
Dec.  n,  Captain  George  E.  Nudd  and  Mrs.  Abigail  Ren- 

clall,  both  of  Wolfeborough. 
1828.    Jan.  7,  William  Goldsmith,  of  Ossipee,  and  Nancy  Sceggel, 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Jan.  21,  Walter  N.  Cotton  and  Eleanor  C.  Chrischenson, 

both  of  Wolfeborough. 
Feb.    19,  Nathaniel  Frost  and  Elisabeth   M.   Nudd,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Mar.  26,  William  Rust,  Jr.,  of  W'olfeborough,  and  Polly 

Evans,  of  Alton. 
Apr.  3,  Josiah  W.  Chase,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Abigail 

Chase,  of  Alton. 
Jun.  2,  Joseph  Wiggin  and  Betsy  Ann  Wiggin,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Jul.  22,  Calvin  Tibbetts,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Joanna  M. 

Pike,  of  Middleton. 
Jul.  24,  David  Chamberlin,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Lydia 

Evans,  of  Alton. 


376  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

Aug.  12,  Capt.  Samuel  Nudd  and  Nancy  Frances  Whit- 
ten,  both  of  Wolfeborough. 

Aug.  20,  Stephen  Johnson,  of  Ossipee,  and  Sally  Jenness, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Sep.  21,  Moses  Bates,  of  Somersworth,  and  Eliza  Perkins, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Oct.  22,  Peter  Rovvell,  of  Brentwood,  and  Mary  Marston, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Oct.  27,  James  Brackett,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sarah  Cro- 
well,  of  Lebanon. 

Oct.  31,  James  Piper  and  Sally  Wiggin,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Oct.  31,  Henry  Nudd  and  Jemima  Babcock,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Dec.  3,  Moses  Nute  and  Betsy  Avery,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Dec.  8,  Edemond  P.  Wentvvorth  and  Nancy  Willey,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Dec.   15,  James  Moulton,  of  Ossipee,  and  Sally  Cotton, 

of  Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  22,  Thomas  J.  Guppy  and  Catherine  M.  Kent,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  22,  John  P.  Cotton    and  Mary  B.  Towi-.v    both  of 

Wolfeborough. 

1829.    Feb.  15.  Thomas  B.  Wiggin  and  Mary  Young,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Feb.    ^5,   Richard   Home,   of  Tuftonborough,  and    Lydia 
Eaton,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Mar.  9,  James  W.  Pike,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Lucinda  R. 
Furbush,  of  Lebanon. 

Mar.  10,  Nathaniel  Avery  and  Anna  Nute.  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jun.  7,  Daniel  Martin,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sophia  W. 
Fernald,  of  Durham. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  377 

Aug.  23,  Daniel  Kimball  and  Susan  Brown,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Oct.  4,  Robert  I.  Clark  and  Abigail  Piper,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Oct.  6,  Ira  Pierce,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Dorothy  French, 
of  Brookfield. 

Oct.  29,  Joseph  Stevenson  and  Hannah  Bickford,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  i,  William  Chase,  of  Rochester,  and  Harriet  Perkins, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  18,  John  McDuffee,  of  Alto»,  and  Louise  Rust,  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  7,  Hamilton  Locke  and  Sophronia  D.  Frost,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec.   14,  Stephen  Home  and  Mary  Ann  Orne,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  24,  William  Rendall  and  Mary  Ann  Blake,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 

1830.    Feb.  10,  John  J.  Nutt,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Joanna  Went- 
worth,  of  Burton. 

Feb.  1 6,  James  Burley,  of  New  Market,  and  Maria  Wig- 
gin,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Mar.  n,  Ira  M.  Weed,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Caroline  N. 
Dalton,  of  Hillsboro. 

May  5,  Levi  Philbrick  and  Lydia  Tibbetts,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

May  23,  William  Fernald  and  Sophronia  Chase,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

May  19,  Jesse  Nute,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Hannah  Gold- 
smith, of  Ossipee. 

May  20,  Samuel  Thompson  and  Phosbe  Rogers,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 

Jun.   13,  James   Bickford  and  Eleanor  Johnson,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 


^78  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

Jim.  28,  David  Blake  and  Abiah  Brewster,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug.  5,    Nathaniel  Edgerly  and    Mary  Furbur,    both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Sep.    i,    Stephen   Xute  and    Mary   Chamberlin,    both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Sep.  13,  George  O.  Cotton,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Eliza 
Rines,  of  Middleton. 

Sep.  27,  William  Clark  and  Mary  Piper,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov.  2,   William  Western,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Anna 
Kennerson,  of  Brookfield. 

Nov.  24,  Levi  Chase,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Sarah  Nute, 

of   Wolfeborough. 

1831.    Feb.  20,  Stephen  Burke,  of  Wolfeborough,  and   Hannah 
Dealing,  of  Brookfield. 

Mar.  7,  John  Bickford,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Abra  Loid, 
of  Lebanon. 

Mar.  7,  Jeremiah  Glidden  and  Betsy  Clay,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Mar.   7,   Samuel   Cotton,   of  Wolfeborough,  and  Abigail 
Hobbs,  of  Eflingham. 

May  — ,  Hezekiah  Tibbetts  and  Mary  Edgerly,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jun.  28,  Thomas  Ham  and  Betsy  Burke,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jul.  12,  Ezra  Johnson,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Nancy  Per- 
kins,  of  Alton. 

Sep.,  Daniel  Swett,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Susan  Keay, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  22,  Silas  Whitehouse  and  Mrs.  Eunice  Wiggin,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  22,  James  M.  Wiggin,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Caro- 
line B.  Wiggin,  of  Tuftonborough. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  379 

Nov.  22,  Ebenezer  B.  Burns  and  Mary  Peavey,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 

1832.    Jan.  9,  George  B.  Farrar,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Susan 
Maria  Dow,  of  Wakefield. 

Feb.  13,  Moses  Morse  and  Sally  Atkinson,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Feb.   13,  Benjamin  Baker,  of  Alton,  and  Lydia  Wedge- 
wood,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Mar.  13,  Ivory  Clough,  of  Parsonsfield,  and  Susan  Rollins, 
of  Wrolfeborough. 

Apr.  16,  John  L.  Swinerton  and  Ann  A.  Robinson,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Apr.  4,  Elliott  Cotton  and  Sarah  Libbey,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

David  S.  Bean,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Susan  Weeks,  of 
Alton. 

Jun.  20,   John    Newell,    of   Wolfeborough,   and    Hannah 
Cook,  of  Wakefield. 

Jul.  29,  Mark  W.  A  very  and  Dorcas  Nute,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug.  26,  Daniel  Copp  and  Nancy  Willey,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Joseph  Young  and  Maria  Langley,  both  of  Wolfeborough. 

Oct.  27,  Thomas  J.  Wiggin,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Betsy 
Drew,  of  Tuftonborough. 

Nov.  5,  Lewis  B.  Key,    of  Wolfeborough,    and  Hannah 
Knox,  of  Lowell. 

Nov.  5,  William  P.  Guppy,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Olivp 
Key,  both  of  Wolfeborough. 

Sep.  25,  Joseph  P.  Rust  and  Mary  J.  Chamberlin,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Sep.  25,    Daniel  Twombly   and    Frozilla   Nute,    both   of 
Wolfeborough. 


380  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

1833,  Jan.  3,  Albert  Newhall  of  Lynn,  and  Hannah  S.  Keys,  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jan.  20,  Bradbury  Keys,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Betsy  H. 
Whitehouse,  of  Brookfield. 

Jan.  20,  Levi  Towle  and  Rebecca  Dudley,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jan.  20,  Augustus  W.  Orne,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Eunice 
N.  Clark,  of  Portsmouth. 

Jan.  26,  William  Brackett,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Eleanor 
Folsom,  of  Ossipee. 

Feb.  7,  Joshua  Goldsmith,  of  Ossipee,  and  Sally  Haines, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Feb.  25,  John  F.  Cotton,  of  Wolfeborough.  and  Mary 
Young,  of  Ossipee. 

Apr.  i,  George  W.  Leavitt,  and  Elizabeth  A.  Fros~,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Apr.  i,  Jeremiah  Towle,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mary 
Blazo,  of  Parsonsfield. 

Apr.  i,  Nathan  Clay,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mary  Dow, 
of  Meredith. 

Apr.  7,  John  W.  Yeaton  and  Sally  P.  Smith,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

May  15,  Seth  W.  French,  of  Alton,  and  Abigail  Watson, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Jun.  21,  Richard  Abbott,  of  Effingham,  and  Jane  Young, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Apr.  20,  John  Durrell,  of  Tamworth,  and  Olive  Witham, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Sep.  18,  Nathaniel  Rogers  and  Eleanor  Jane  Piper,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Oct.  27,  Daniel  R.  Gerralds  and  Lydia  Key,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Dec.  i,  George  Brewster,  Jr.,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Betsy 
H.  Hersey,  of  Tuftonborough. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  381 

1834.    Jan.  ii,  Thomas  L.  Whitton  and  Sally  Morse,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Jan.  13,  Elijah  Meader,  of  Dover,  and  Mrs.  Abigail  Gate, 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Jan.  30.  James  M.  Locke,  of  Wakefield,  and  Sarah  T.  Fox, 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Feb.  2,  Clark  Hersey,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Olive  L.  Tre- 

feren,  of  Salem,  Mass. 
Feb.  25.  Mr.  Brackett,  of  Ossipee,  and  Lydia  Dame,  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Feb.   25,  Charles   Cottle,  of  Brookfield,  and  Mrs.   Eliza 

Page,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Apr.  10,  John  Frost,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Lavinia  De- 
land,  of  Brookfield. 
Apr.   16,  William   B.  Stevens,  of  Ossipee,  and  Mary  J. 

Young,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Apr.  10,  Oilman  C.  Melcher  and  Elizabeth  Rines,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
May  7,    Nathaniel  Piper,    of  Tuftonborough,    and  Sally 

Brewster,  of  Wolfeborough. 
May  4,  William  Dame,  of  Ossipee,  and  Hannah  Keniston, 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Apr.  26,  John  Clough  and  Mrs.  Mehitable  Whitehouse, 

both  of  Wolfeborough. 
Nov.  9,  William  Haley,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Mary  Ann 

Hersey,  of  Wolfeborough. 
May  4,  Samuel  Flint,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Nancy  V. 

Wedgewood,  of  Greenland. 
Nov.  9,    George  Fox  and    Drusilla  C.  Hersey.    both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Nov.  9,  Matthew  S.  Parker  and  Clarissa  Blake,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  9,  James  Fogg  and  Betsy  L.  Furbur,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 


382 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Nov.  22,  Levi  Remick,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mary  Ann 
Durgin,  of  Tuftonborough. 

Dec.  28,  Daniel  Chamberlain,  of  South  Natick,  and  Maria 
M.  Martin,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  29,  George  W.  Libbey  and  Sally  E.  Young,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  29,  George  Rust,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Drisilla  B. 

Davis,  of  Alton. 

1835.    J'in.  18,  Jethro  Home,  of  New  Durham,  and  Nancy  Cot- 
ton, of  Wolfeborough. 

Mar.  i,  John  Newell,  of  Brookline,  Mass.,  and  Susan  Nute, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Mar.  10,  Andrew  J.  Drew,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  i.ydia 
W.  Veazey,  of  Ossipee. 

Mar    10,  Elijah    Hersey  and  Hannah    Haines,    both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Mar.  10,  John  Chamberlin,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Lydia 
Tebbetts,  of  Brookfield. 

May  23,  John  Young,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Lucinda  Bur- 
leigh,  of  Ossipee. 

May  23,  Jeremiah  Towle  and  Mary  Towle,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jun.  7,  Edward  Trask,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Eliza  Cottle, 
of  Brookfield. 

Jun.  28,  Addison  F.  Burleigh  and  Olive  Hayes,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jul.  26,  William  Tebbetts,  of  Brookfield,  and  Mary  Ann 
M.  Smith,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Jul.  26,  John  L.  Fnrbur  and  Sarah  Fogg,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug.   17,  John  M.  Brackett  and  Sarah  Thompson,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Sep.  6,  Simon  Fogg  and  Elisabeth  C.  Wingate,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  383 

Sep.  26,    Levi   Veazey,    of  Tuftonborough,    and    Sarah 

Young,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Sep.   27,   Daniel   Coleman,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mary 

Ann  Whidden,  of  Portsmouth. 
Oct.  13,  Joseph  Fall,  of  Ossipee,  and  Sarah  Ann  Brown, 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Nov.  7,  Benjamin  Philbrick  and  Mary  Johnson,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Nov.  9,    John  R.  Hayes    and  Abiah  B.  Hayes,    both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Nov.   16,    Josiah    Caverly,    of  Boston,    and  Hannah    S. 

Newell,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Nov.  29,  Lewis  L.  Whitehouse  and  Sarah  Bickford,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  21,  Ira  Home  and  Eliza  D.  Mason,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 
1836.    Jan.  21,  Chandler  Eaton,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mary  J. 

Cottle,  of  Brookfield. 
Jan.  21,  John  Tuttle,  of  Somersworth,  and  Hannah  J.  Fox, 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Apr.  n,  Samuel  L.  Mclntire  and  Mary  C.  Mclntire,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Apr.  25,  Thomas  J.  Avery  and  Ann  B.  Cotton,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
May  2,  Joshua  Stackpole  and  Mrs.  Rosamond  Allen,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 

Jul.  17,  Ezra  Pinkham  and  Caroline  P.  Rust,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 
Jul.  31,  Otis  Key,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Salome  Small,  of 

Gilford. 
Oct.  2,  Josiah  Wentworth,  of  Alton,  and  Betsy  Ann  Lucas, 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Oct.  2,  Charles  Avers,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Betsy  Maria 

Chamberlin,  of  Tuftonborough. 


384  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Oct.  13,  Mark  Fernald,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mary  C. 

Furbish,  of  South  Berwick. 
Nov.  7,  William  Lucas  and  Polly  T.   Kimball,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Dec.  28,  William  B.  Furbur,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mary 

Jane  Wallace,  of  Boston. 

1837.    Jan.  15,  Thomas  L.  Nudd  and  Fanny  Lord,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 
Jan.  20,  Nathaniel  Willey,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Harriet 

Roberts,  of  Alton. 
Jan.  28,  David  Chamberlin,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Hannah 

C.  Pike,  of  Brookfield. 
Feb.  5,  George  W.  Libbey  and  Ruth  W.  Shorey,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Feb.  19,  Nicholas  C.  Copp  and  Almira  A.  Fullerton,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Feb.   19,  William  Deland,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sarah 

Deland,  of  Dover. 
Feb.  19,  Thomas  Bickford,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Lydia 

F.  Bickford,  of  Tuftonborough. 
Mar.  5,  Benjamin  F.  Garland  and  Mary  F.  Whitten,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Mar.   5,    Peter   Key,   Jr.,   of  Wolfeborough,  and   Lavina 

Burroughs,  of  Alton. 
Mar.   14,  Daniel  Jenness,    of  Wolfeborough,    and   Eliza 

Meserve,  of  Limington,  Me. 
Apr.  4,  Aaron  Roberts,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Maria  A. 

Gage,  of  Wakefield. 
Apr.  4,    Joseph    Ayers,    of    Barrington,    and    Susan  W. 

Piper,  of  Wolfeborough. 
May    10,  James   Burke,  Jr.  and   Esther  Willey,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Jul.    n,   Joseph    Goodhue,   of    Brookfield,    and    Hannah 

Stevenson,  of  Wolfeborough. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  385 

Aug.  14,  Stephen  Tebbetts  and  Mary  Ann  Sceggel,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Oct.  16,  Stephen  A.  Bickford,  of  Ossipee,  and  Hannah  A. 

Young,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Oct.  16,  Jeremiah  L.  Young  and  Mary  A.  Jackson,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Nov.  22,  George  Y.  Furbur  and  Jane  Thompson,  both  of 

Wolfebprough. 
Nov.  27,  Moses  Thompson  and  Mrs.  Sally  Edgerly,  both 

of   Wolfeborough. 
Oct.  30,  Frederick  T.  Leavitt  and  Mary  Whitten,  both  of 

WTolfeborough. 
Nov.  22,  Samuel  T.  Piper,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Eleanor 

Knox,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Dec.  n,  J.  Forrest  Hall  and  Annette  Augusta  Livy,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
1838.    Feb.  28,  Ezra  Hardy,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Eliza  Hardy, 

of  Wakefield. 
Feb.  26,  David  G.  Kimball,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mary 

Evans,   of  Alton. 
May  7,  Matthias  Haines  and  Hannah  Blanchard,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Jun.   12,   Phineas    Johnson,  of    Brookfield,    and  Hannah 

Young,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Jun.  23,  Thomas  Nute  and  Adeline  Nudd,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 
Jul.  20,  Daniel  Cotton,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Eliza  K. 

Lang,  of  Brookfield. 

Aug.  20,  Samuel  Shorey  and  Nancy  Drew,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 
Jun.  4,  Leonard  Shortridge  and  Rosella  Fernald,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Sep.  26,  Ebenezer  Wingate,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Susan 

Ricker,  of  Milton. 


386 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Nov.  20,  David  J.  Folsom,  of  Tamworth,  and  Harriet  N. 

Gate,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Nov.  20,  Charles  G.  Edgerly,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mary 

Wiggin,  of  Tuftonborough. 
Nov.  20,  Samuel  Haley,  of  Moultonborough,  and  Mary 

Wiggin,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Dec.  20,  Jethro  R.  Furbur,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Susan 

Elison,  of  Dover. 

1839.  Jan.  5.  Cyrus  B.  Canney,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Statira 

H.  Nute,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Jan.  14,  Levi  T.  Hersey,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sarah  H. 
Piper,  of  Tuftonborough. 

Jan.  14,  Lyford  Shorey  and  Betsy  Willey,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Mar.  12,  Adam  Brown,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sarah  Ann 
Pickering,  of  Newington. 

Apr.  12,  Charles  Folsom,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sarah 
Richards,  of  Rochester. 

May  ii,  Charles  Remick  and  Elisabeth  G.  Huggins,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Sep.  18,  Jacob  Eastman  and  Mahala  C.  Morgan,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Oct.  8,  Thomas  J.  Bickford,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sophia 
M.  Huntress,  of  Strafford. 

Nov.  i,  Rev.  Leander  Thompson,  of  Woburn,  Mass.,  and 
Ann  Eliza  Avery,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  i,  Michial  Hicks  and  Dolly  Rollins,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov.  30,  John  F.  Desmases,  of  Ossipee,  and  Mary  Melissa 
Tebbetts,  of  \Volfeborough. 

Dec.  11,  Henry  Rust,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Lucinda  Han- 
cock, of  Meredith. 

1840.  Jan.    14,  Jonathan   H.  Burleigh,   of   Tuftonborough,   and 

Caroline  Tebbetts,  of  Wolfeborough. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  387 

Jan.  14,  Samuel  Dealing  and  Lydia  P.  Doe,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jan.  20,  Andrew  Swett,  of  Danvers,  Mass.,  and  Olive  Jane 
Doe,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Feb.  25,  Robert  Estes  and  Betsy  Shepherd,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Mar.  6,  George  W.  Home,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Nancy 
Thurston,  of  Charlestown,  Mass. 

Aug.  30,  William  P.  Cotton  and  Mary  Libbey,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Mar.  29,  Samuel  J.  Stevenson  and  Mary  Ann  Rines,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Apr.  25,  Benjamin  Lucas  and  Polly  Willey,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Apr.  25,  Moses  Thompson  and  Hannah  M.  Rust,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr.  25,  Moses  Ham  and  Betsy  Ham,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

May  12,  Charles  P.  Sanborn  and  Betsy  C.  Perkins,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jun.  2,  Lewis  B.  Canney,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Mary  Ann 
Cotton,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Jun.  14,  David  Shaw,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mrs.  Judith 
Morrison,  of  Parsonsfield. 

Jul.  25,  James  Libbey,  of  Porter,  Me.,  and  Mary  W.  Nute, 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Jul.  31,  Oilman  Cooper,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Sarah  D. 
Barker,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Jun.  20,  John  S.  Eastman  and  Sally  Hodgdon,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Sep.  6,  Benjamin  B.  Tibbetts  and  Elisabeth  Brown,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Sep.  15,  Bradbury  Quint  and  Sally  Tuttle,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 


388  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

Oct.  6,  James  R.  Frost  and  Esther  Ann  Young,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Dec.  25,  Winthrop  B.  Tibbetts  and  Olive  Rollins,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Nov.  12,  Nathaniel  Hicks,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Betsy  I. 

Watson,  of  New  Durham. 
Nov.  12,  Moncere  R.  Merrifield  and  Miriam  Whitten,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Dec.  20,    Daniel  Shepherd  and    Hannah  Estes,    both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Dec.  25,  James  F.  Dixon  and  Betsy  A.  P.  Rust,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  25,  Rufus  Knight,  of  Waterbury,  Me.,  and  Mary  Phil- 
brick,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Dec.  30,  Ira  Chamberlin  and  Mrs.  Mary  Burns,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Dec.  ^o,    Eld.  David  B.  Cowell,  of    Lebanon,  Me.,    and 

•.'•<  >'• 

Christiana  B.  Coffin,  of  Wolfeborough. 

1841.    Jan.  26,  Alvah  Rollins,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Emily  Peary, 
of  Brookfield. 

Jan.  i,  Benjamin  G.  Young  and  Emily  C.  Home,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Jan.  30,  John  C.  Drew  and  Sarah  C.  Lucas,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Mar.    8,    George    M.    Garland,    of  Ossipee,    and    Joanna 
Moody,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Mar.  23,  Joseph  Jenness  and  Eliza  A.  Hawkins  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr.  12,  Francis  Nute  and  Belinda  Jenness,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

May  10,  James  J.  Rendall  and  Mary  C.  Rogers,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jun.  7,  Oliver  P.  Copp  and  Hannah  Edmonds,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  389 

Jul   ii,   Hezekiah  Williams  and  Abigail   Nute,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Aug.  1 6,  Joseph  P.  Cotton,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Jerusha 
Tucker,  of  Ossipee. 

Aug.  23,  Johnson  Jenness,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Elisa- 
beth P.  Clark,  of  Wakefield. 

Sep.  20,  George  Brewster,    of  Wolfeborough,    and  Lois 
McDuffee,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Sep.  20,  Anthony  W.  Chase,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Han- 
nah G.  Chase,  of  Tuftonborough. 

Oct.  24,  William  P.  Cotton  and  Lavina  Home,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  2,  Daniel  Blake  and    Sarah  A.  Bickford,    both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  2,  Ebenezer  Tibbetts,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Lydia 
j7.  Fall,  of  Ossipee. 

Nov.  2,  Matthew  S.  Parker,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Elisa- 
beth Perkins,  of  Alton. 

Nov.  12,  Stephen  D.  Edmonds,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Lucy 
Goodwin,  of  Dover. 

Nov.  27,  Benjamin  B.  Tebbetts,  of  Wolfeborough,  and 
Frances  J.  Dearborn,  of  Wakefield. 

Dec.  20,  Nathaniel  C.  Home  and  Louisa  Fogg,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 

1842.    Feb.  8,  John  N.  Bassett,    of  Tuftonborough,    and  Lydia 
Langley,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Apr.   13,  Daniel  Lucas,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sarah  F. 
Chesley,  of  New  Durham. 

Jun.  30,  Lemuel  Chesley,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Lucy  M. 
Morrison,  of  Alton. 

Jun.  30,  James  Cate,  of  Loudon,  and  Mary  Jane  Cate,  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jun.  13,  Charles  G.  Tibbetts,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Jane 
E.  Furbush. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Aug.  4,  John  Maleham,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sarah  Mor- 
gan, of  Effingham. 

Sep.  5,  Isaac  Willey,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sarah  Lang,  of 
Wakefield. 

Sep.  26,  Charles  F.  French,  of  Manchester,  and  Eleanor  R. 
Meader,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Oct.    18,    Soliman   Abbott,   of   Boston,   and   Hannah   C. 
Mason,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Oct.  22,  Daniel  Bassett,  Jr.,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Eliza 
J.  Canney,  of  Dover. 

Nov.  7,  John  Osborn  Doe,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mary 
Baker,  of  Alton. 

Nov.  27,  Silas  Durgin  and  Mary  R.  Rogers,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough 

Dec.  2,  Alphonzo  H.  Rust  and  Betsy  R.  Furbur,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  5,  Rev.  N.  C.  Coffin,  of  Fearing,  Ohio,  and  Susan  J. 
Rust,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  12,  Augustus  C.  Shaw  and  Lydia  K.  Lucas,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  20,  Asa  Perkins  and  Eliza  F.  Parker,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

1843.    Feb.  4,  Samuel  Wyatt  and  Elisabeth  J.  Moodey,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

John  F.  Chamberlin,  of  Brighton,  Mass.,  and  Julia  Ann 
Ayers,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Apr.  4,  Otis  Evans  and  Shuah  M.  Libbey,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Apr.  7,  Joseph  M.  Morgan  and  Mary  M.  Glidden,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Apr.  30,  Thaniel   Home  and   Caroline  Folsom,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr.  30.  John  Deland,  of  New  Durham,  and  Almira  Pierce, 
of  Wolfeborough. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


391 


Apr.  30,    John  Estes  and  Emila    Jane  Harden,    both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Jun.  5,  Henry  Emery,    of  Boston,  Mass.,    and  Betsy  A. 

Martin,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Sep.  17,    James  Sceggel,  Jr.    and  Sophia  Nute,    both  of 

Wolfeborough. 

Sep.  18,  John  C.  Leavitt  and  Betsy  S.  Rust,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 
Sep.  18,  James  Edgerly  and  Nancy  Wedgewood,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Oct.  2,    Jonathan  Bickford,  Jr.,    of  Wolfeborough,    and 

Elisabeth  J.  Downes,  of  Salem,  Mass. 
George  W.  Nute  and  Hannah  G.  Chamberlin,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Nov.  20,  George  Haines,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Margarett 

Lord,  of  Ossipee. 
Nov.  27,  James  Canney  and  Betsy  Ann  Cotton,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Dec.  4,  John  W.  Bickford  and  Dorothy  Bickford,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
1844.    Jan.  29,  Nathaniel  Banfield,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mary 

A.  Young,  of  Milton. 
Feb.  12,  James  Bartlett,  of  Haverhill,  Mass.,  and  Patience 

Hawkins,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Mar.  2,  Eld.  George  O.  Cotton,  of  Wolfeborough,  and 

Rebecca  Kendal,  of  Dover. 
Mar.  12,  Charles  Novvell  and  Eleanor  Jane  Rogers,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Apr.  20,  Nathan  Morrison  and  Ann  C.  Fullerton,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Apr.  22,  William  K.  Lucas  and  Ann  Elisabeth  Dockham, 

both  of  Wrolfeborough. 
Apr.  22,  Franklin  Leslie,  of  Derry,  Mass.,  and  Hannah  P. 

Tibbetts,  of  Wolfeborough. 


392 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Apr.  29,  Edward  T.  Hiscox,  of  Westerly,  R.  I.,  and  Caro- 
line Orne,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Jun.  3,  Samuel  B.  Sawyer  and  Susan  Maleham,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Jun.  20,  Samuel  Marden,  of  Jefferson,  and  Eliza  J.  Frost, 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Jun.  7,  Joshua  Stackpole  and  Mrs.  Louisa  Home,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Jul.  i,  Joseph  L.  Dixon  and  Mary  E.  Fernald,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Aug.  6,  Thomas  C.  Bickford  and  Mehitable  Plummer,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Aug.  26,    Orin   Dixon  and    Maria  R.   Fernald,    both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Aug.  26,  William  Pinkham,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mary  F. 

Chase,  of  Alton. 
Sep.  /,  Charles  B.  Edgerly,  of  New  Durham,  and  Lavinia 

E.  Home,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Oct.   13,    Charles  Tibbetts,    of  Wolfeborough,    and  Ann 

Dearborn,  of  Wakefield. 
Nov.  4,  Ezra  B.  Hersey,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Ann  E. 

Piper,  of  Tuftonborough. 
Nov.  i  r,  Joseph  H.  Nudd  and  Eliza  Ann  Chamberlin,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Dec.  9,  James  Nute,  of  Ossipee,  and  Eleanor  H.  Nudd,  of 

Wolfeborough. 
1845.    Apr.  12,  Benjamin  Edgerly,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sarah 

Ann  Morrison,  of  Ossipee. 
May  2,  William  L.  Furbur,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Louisa 

A.  Cate,  of  Brookfiekl. 
Jul.  21,   Benjamin   Prebble  and   Sarah   Tebbetts,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Aug.    i,   Ezra    Tebbetts    and    Debora  Rollins,    both    of 

Wolfeborouerh. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  393 

Aug.  6,  Benjamin  B.  Smith,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Alvira 

M.  Leighton,  of  Ossipee. 
Sep.  3,  James  G.  Brown,  of  Lynn,  Mass.,  and  Christiana 

A.  Dame,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Sep.  29,  Joseph  C.  Woodman,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  and  Sarah 

Ann  Demeritt,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Oct.  8,  Joseph  Kent,  of  Granby,  Lower  Canada,  and  Betsy 

C.  Lucas,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Oct.  13,  Thomas  Triggs  and  Mrs.  Hannah  Fullerton,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Nov.  i,  Joshua  P.  Ayers,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mary  Jane 

C.  Kurd,  of  Acton,  Me. 
Nov.  3,  Joseph  P.  Shorey,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Almira 

Earle,  of  North  Berwick,  Me. 
Nov.  3,  Nicholas  B.  Abbott,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Ruth 

Ann  Haines,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Nov.  25,  Nathaniel  K.  Hunt,  of  New  Durham,  and  Sarah 

C.  Leavitt,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Dec.  21,  Charles  Stackpole  and  Mary  H.  Cook,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Dec.  29,  Loammi  Hardy,  of  Ossipee,  and  Mary  B.  Haines, 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Dec.  29,  Charles  R.  Coleman  and  Olive  A.  Deland,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
1846.    Jan.  21,   James  M.   Locke,  of  Barrington,  and  Izetta  J. 

Plummer,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Feb.  28,  Moses  Ellis  and  Adeline  P.  White,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

May  10,  John  Maleham  and  Jane  T.  Keay,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 
May  18,  John  H.  Young,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Catherine 

J.  Cook,  of  Wakefield. 
May  18,  John  A.  Cook,  of  Wakefield,  and  Sarah  Young,  of 

Wolfeboroucfh. 


394  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUQH. 

Jun.  29,  Samuel  D.  Hasty,  of  South  Berwick,  Me.,  and 
Sarah  E.  Warren,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Aug.  24,  Thomas  Chamberlin,  of  Brookfield,  and  Nancy 
Home,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Sep.  10,  William  Watson  and  Martha  A.  H.  Watson,  both 
of  \Volfeborough. 

Oct.  4,  H.    Dearborn   Canney,    of  Tuftonborough,    and 
Martha  J.  Haines,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Oct.  18,  John  Home  and  Nancy  Home,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Oct.  26,  Stephen  F.  Moulton,  of  Tamworth,  and  Sarah 
Warren,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  17,  John  Hackett,  of  Andover,  Mass.,  and  Abigail  N. 
Stevenson,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  30,    Deering  F.  Stoddard,    of  Wolfeborough,  and 

Sophronia    T.  Goodale,  of  Danvers,  Mass. 

1847.    Mar.  8,  Frederick  W.  Home  and  Sarah  E.  Allen,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

May  31,  Matthias  M.  Haines,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Han- 
nah S.  Haines,  of  Dover. 

Jun.  14,  Richard  R.  Chase  and  Lucy  T.  Shortridge,  both 
of  \Volfeborough. 

Jun.  27,  John  Kelly  and  Harriet  Byron  Guppy,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jul.  5,  Samuel" Hayes,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mrs.  Abigail 
Wentworth,  of  Alton. 

Aug.  1 6,  Charles  H.  Burke,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Lucy 
B.  Wentworth,  of  Lebanon,  Me. 

Sep.   6,   Stephen   Avers,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Tamson 
Roberts,  of  Ossipee. 

Sep.  12,  Henry  A.  Whitton  and  Lydia  K.  Drew,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Oct.  1 8,  Nathaniel  Tuttle  and  Sarah  Brown,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  395 

Oct.  28,  Joshua  B.  Johnson  and  Hannah  R.  Perkins,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Oct.  28,  John  Haines,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mrs.  Rachel 

Haines,  of  Rumney. 
Nov.  25,  James  W.  Shorey,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Lydia 

S.  Libbey,  of  Wakefield. 
Nov.  26,  John  C.  Frost  and  Lucinda  A.  Chamberlin,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Nov.  27,  Charles  Drew,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Ann  Rollins, 

of  Alton. 
1848.    Jan.  8,  Charles  Rollins,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  and  Caroline 

Dana  Pickering,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Jan.  22,    Daniel  Rollins    and  Elisabeth  Brown,    both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Feb.  8,  Benjamin  Folsom  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Glidden,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Feb.    17,    George    K.  Brown,    of  Moultonborough,    and 

Mahala  Piper,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Mar.  13,  John  T.  Langdon  and  Sarah  P.  Libbey,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Mar.  14,  Thomas  A.  Johnson  and  Lydia  Edmonds,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Mar.  27,  William  Willey,    of  Conway,    and  Mrs.  Nancy 

Rogers,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Apr.  4,  George  P.  Cotton,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Rebecca 

A.  Kendallj  of  Dover. 
Apr.  4,    Richard  Bickford,    of  Wolfeborough,    and  Mrs. 

Polly  E.  Gilman,  of  Tamworth. 
Apr.  22,  James  P.  Hersey  and  Clara  J.  Willey,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
May  29,  Jesse  W.  Clough,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sabrina 

Wentworth,  of  Berwick,  Me. 
May  29,  William  H.  Fullerton  and  Emily  Orne,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 


396  HISTORY  OFt  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Jul.  3,  E.  Davis  Barker,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Betsy  H. 
Mooney,  of  Alton. 

Jul.  15,    Hiram  C.  Kenney  and    Clarissa  Dore,    both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jul.  25,  Alonzo  F.  Tibbetts  and  Betsy  W.  Haines,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Aug.   29,    Benjamin    Stanton,    of    Lebanon,    Me.,    and 
Catherine  P.  Coffin,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Sep.  4,  Nathaniel  Huggins  and  Ruth     P.  Nudd,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Sep.  12,  Benjamin  F.  Thompson  and  Mrs.  Hannah  Wig- 
gin,  both  of  Wolfeborough. 

Oct.  2,  James  A.  Piper,  of  Tuftonborough,  and  Julia  A. 
Hersey,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Oct.  14,  Jeremiah  Emerson,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mrs. 
Phoebe  Dame,  of  Dover. 

Oct.  16,  Nicholas  Nute,  Jr.,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Lydia 
Ann  Colcord,  of  Tuftonborough. 

Nov.  15,  John  S.  Hurd,  of  Farmington,  and  Joanna  H. 
Brewster,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  25,  Samuel  Tibbetts,    of  Wolfeborough,    and  Mrs. 

Mary  M.  G.  Whitehouse,  of  Wakefield. 

1849.    Jan-  8,  Addison  S.  Burleigh,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Caro- 
line D.  Hayes,  of  Rochester. 

Jan.  29,  Ivory  H.  Young,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Fanny 
A.  Underwood,  of  Saxonville,  Mass. 

Feb.  19,  Albert  Bennett,  of  Alton,  and  Hannah  Pike,  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Mar.  6,  Paul    Nute  and  Mary  A.  Nute,    both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Apr.  9,    John  Kent,    of  Wolfeborough,  and    Mrs.  Sarah 
Trafton,  of  Moultonborough. 

Apr.  10,  Mark  T.  Wiggin,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Angelina 
P.  Graves,  of  Tuftonborough. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  397 

Apr.  30,  Harris  W.  Morgan  and  Jane  C.  Edgerly,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

May  14,  Cyrus  Brook  and  Mary  A.  Dixon,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

May  14,  Charles  C.  Kendall  and  Charlotte  B.  Cotton,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

May  30,  Samuel  Johnson  and  Betsy  Kent,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jul.  9,  Ira  Whittle  and  Abigail  H.  Smith,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug.  13,  Ambrose  Deland,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Hannah 
Evans,  of  Alton. 

Aug.  6,  Charles  C.  Whitehouse  and  Lydia  Ann  Glidden, 
both  of  Wolfeborough. 

Sep.  24,  John  C.  Edgerly,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mary  J. 
Deland,  of  New  Durham. 

Nov.  5,  Charles  B.  Lucas  and  Mrs.  Mary  Rust,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  26,  Thomas  J.  Tebbetts,  Jr.  and  Sarah  E.  Locke,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

May  20,  Leonard  Shortridge,  of  Brookfield,  and  Mary  J. 

Tibbetts,  of  Wolfeborough. 

*    1850.    Jan.  i,    David    C.  Rogers  and    Sarah  E.  Clark,    both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jan.  i,  John  G.  Chamberlin  and  Mary  E.  Willey,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jan.  17,  Andrew  J.  Fullerton  and  Mary  Getchell,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jan.  29,  Charles  C.  Whitehouse  and  Jane  Glidden,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Feb.  25,  William  Cate  and  Abigail  Willey,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Apr.  17,  Samuel  H.  Walker,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  and  Mary 
E.  Edmonds,  of  Wolfeborough. 


398 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


Apr.  27,  Samuel  B.  Sceggel,  of  Ossipee,  and  Eliza  Young, 

of  Wolfeborough. 
May  4,  John  A.  Chamberlin,  of  Brookfield,  and  Louisa 

Demeritt,  of  Wolfeborough. 
May  8,  Ivory  P.  Keniston  and  Mary  J.  Thompson,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Tun.    n,    David    Blake,    of    Wolfeborough,    and    Martha 

• '  &         ' 

Hayes,  of  Rochester. 

Jun.  8,  Moses  Thompson  and  Ruth  Ann  Parker,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jul.  4,  Francis  B.  Cook  and  Sarah  A.  Lucas,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jul.  4,  Henry  Stoddard  and  Sophia  Nute,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jul.  4,  Benjamin  F.  Parker  and  Harriet  B.  Whitten,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Oct.  4,    Hamilton    Locke    and  Dorcas    Guptill,    both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Oct.  30,    Ellis  A.    Upton,  of  Washington,  and    Mary  E. 
Goldsmith,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  22,  Joseph  Dearborn,  of  Wakefield,  and  Hannah  P. 
Tibbetts,  of  Wolfeborough. 

Nov.  23,  John  L.  Goldsmith  and  Almira  Brown,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 

1851.    Feb.  8,  Nathan  Morrison  and  Alice  A.  Doe,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Mar.  10,  James  Stillings  and  Mrs.  Hannah  Edgerly,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Apr.  2,  William  A.  Smith,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sophia 
S.  Young,  of  Rochester. 

Apr.  24,  James  Fullerton  and  Mary  A.  Waterhouse,  both 
of  Wolfeborough. 

Apr.  14,  Benjamin  L.  Nudd,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mary 
A.  Griffin,  of  Lee. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


399 


Jun.  29,  William  Tibbetts  and  Lucinda  G.  Plummer,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Sep.  i,    Charles  F.  Parker  and  Elisabeth  Boyle,    both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Oct.  13,    Selah  P.  Gridley,    of  Saco,    Me.,  and    Mary  J. 

Home,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Nov.  17,  Eli  C.  Swett,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sarah  M. 

Hersey,  of  Tuftonborough. 
Nov.  17,  William  Kilgore,  of  Waterford,  Me.,  and  Abba 

Cotton,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Nov.  27,  Joshua  B.  Haines  and  Hannah  Fernald,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 

1852.    Jan.  26,  Silas  Durgin  and  Caroline  F.  Gale,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 
Jan.  26,  Jeremiah  W.  Dearborn  and  Fanny  M.  Warren, 

both  of  Wolfeborough. 
Feb.  16,  Henry  G.  Home  and  Martha  E.  Mason,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Mar.  8,  Daniel  Martin  and  Mrs.  Abigail  Nudd,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 

Mar.  9,  William  W.  Dorr,  of  Ossipee,  and  Nancy  N.  Fer- 
nald, of  Wolfeborough. 
Apr.   i,  Thomas  Lucas  and  Mrs.  Caroline  P.  Pinkham, 

both  of  Wolfeborough. 
Apr.  24,  Oliver  P.  Felker  of  Barrington,  and  Eunice  D. 

Cotton,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Apr.  27,  John  Fall,  of  Ossipee,  and  Hannah  N.  Avery,  of 

Wolfeborough. 
May  22,  Charles  C.  Dudley  and  Lydia  A.  Tibbetts,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Jul.  5,  John  W.  Towle  and  Mary  F.  Goldsmith,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Aug.  9,  John  M.   Kimball  and    Rosina  Rollins,    both  of 


400 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


Aug.  20,  Jonathan  L.  Moore,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Lucy 

J.  Sanborn  of  Sanbornton. 

Sep.  i,  Charles  Nowell  and  Mary  G.  Clark,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 
Sep.  i,  Joseph  Varney,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Emma  G. 

Whitchouse,  of  Rochester. 

Sep.  7,  Alvah  Rollins  and  Eliza  Kimball,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 
Sep.  7,  Matthias  M.  Haines,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Vianna 

Home,  of  Boston,  Mass. 
Oct.  18,  Ephraim    H.    Bradley,    of    Wolfeborough,    and 

Clarissa  A.  Lougee,  of  Alton. 
Oct.  19,  Daniel  Wood,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  and  Charlotte  E. 

Rust,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Nov.  3,  Benjamin  F.  Mason  and  Hannah  R.  Hersey,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Nov.  22,  John  W.  Avery  and  Susan  Home,  both  of  WTolfe- 

borough. 
1853.    Apr.  n,  Ezra  F.  Johnson  and  Elisabeth  W.  Sanborn,  both 

of  Wolfeborough. 
Apr.  28,  William  Corson,  of  Alton,  and  Susan  R.  Hayes, 

of  Wolfeborough. 
May  2,  Gersham  Bickford,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mary 

Jackson,  of  Tamworth. 
May  n,  Miles    Randall,  of   Wolfeborough,  and    Adeline 

Weeks,  of  Wakefield. 
May  24,  George  K.  Warren,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mary 

E.  Nason,  of  Dover. 
Jun.  15,  Nathaniel  H.  Cotton,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Sarah 

E.  Tebbetts,  of  Brookfield. 
Jun.  26,  Jones  Marden  and  Lucinda  W.  Warren,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Aug.  n,  John  Tebbetts,  Jr.,  and  Abbie  F.  Allen,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


4OI 


Aug.   ii,  Stephen  D.  Avery,  of  Strafford,  and  Ann  M. 

Allen,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Sep.  10,  Charles  F.  Kimball  and  Mary  F.  Warren,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Sep.  12,  Daniel  Clough  and  Susan  F.  Morgan,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 
Sep.  26,  Moses  B.  Beacham,  of  Ossipee,  and  Hannah  Nute, 

of  Wolfeborough. 

Oct.  29,  Reuben  H.  Copp,  of  Lebanon,  Me.,  and  Hannah 
^  J.  Burke,  of  Wolfeborough. 
Nov.  7,  John  G.  Gate  and  Anna  A.  Clark,  both  of  Wolfe- 

,.«.-*•**••  C  Q*  C**^    \f  •••        ii    i      '  •  "  '•'  '••' '  •"    '      "   " '  . t  t  .*  /     •£-* 

borough. 

Nov.  26,  Benjamin  Morrison  and  Fannie  Foss,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  7,  William  P.  Hersey  and  Lucinda  Avery,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec.  19,  John  Parsons  and  Mrs.  Tamson  Thayer,  both  of 

Wolfeborough. 

1854.    May  i,  Benjamin  F.  Trickey,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Elisa- 
beth C.  Rand,  of  New  Durham. 

May  29,  Joseph  J.  Whitten  and  Lavonia  C.  Fogg,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

July   10,   Benjamin   F.   Blaisdell,  of  Lebanon,   Me.,   and 
Dorothy  Pierce,  of  Wolfeborough. 

July  10,  John  Clough  and  Betsy  Ann  Lang,  both  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jul.  12,  George  F.  Cook  and  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Frost,  both  of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jul.  31,  Frederic  Gage,  of  Kenosha,  Wis.,  and  Caroline  C. 
Roberts,  of  Wolfeborough. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

WOLFEBOROUGH  AND  TUFTONBOROUGH  ACADEMY — FlRST  MEET- 
ING OF  PROPRIETORS — INCORPORATION — ACADEMY  LOT — 
TRUSTEES — ACADEMY  BUILDING — OFFICERS  AND  STUDENTS 
IN  1823 — TEACHERS  AND  STUDENTS  IN  1836 — HENRY  WIL- 
SON— LYCEUM — CHRISTIAN  INSTITUTE — BREWSTER  FREE 
ACADEMY — EXTRACT  FROM  WILL  OF  JOHN  BREWSTER — 
CHARTER — TRUSTEES — TEACHERS — ACADEMY  GROUNDS — 
EARLY  LIBRARIES — BREWSTER  LIBRARY — TOWN  TRUSTEES 
APPOINTED. 

ABOUT  1820  there  seems  to  have  been  in  Wolfeborough  an  in- 
creased interest  in  educational  matters  which  led  to  the 
adoption  of  measures  to  establish  an  academy.  On  the  fourth 
day  of  May,  1820,  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  inn  of  Ichabod 
Libbey,  at  which  Jonathan  Blake  was  appointed  chairman,  and 
Daniel  Pickering,  secretary.  At  this  meeeting  it  was  voted  to 
raise  by  subscription  a  sum  equal  to  five  thousand  dollars  for  a 
fund  with  which  to  erect  a  building  for  an  academy  and  other  pur- 
poses. Each  donor  was  to  pay  on  the  sum  subscribed  six  per  cent 
annually  for  ten  successive  years,  and  that  was  to  be  in  full  for 
his  obligation.  At  an  adjourned  meeting,  Henry  H.  Orne,  An- 
drew Lucas,  Jr.,  and  Samuel  Avery  were  appointed  a  committee 
to  draft  a  petition  for  an  act  of  incorporation,  and  Samuel  Avery, 
Nathaniel  Rogers,  Henry  H.  Orne,  Henry  Rust,  3d,  James 
Hersey,  James  Folsom,  and  Henry  R.  Parker,  a  committee  to  ob- 
tain subscriptions  and  superintend  the  erection  of  an  academy 
building.  Five  thousand  two  hundred  and  seventy  dollars  were 
pledged  in  sums  varying  from  thirty  to  three  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars. 

The  academy  was  incorporated  June,  1820.     The  charter  was 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  403 

granted  to  Samuel  Avery,  Jonathan  Blake,  Daniel  Pickering,  and 
their  associates.  It  authorized  the  association  to  hold  real  estate 
of  the  value  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars  exempt  from  taxation.  The 
academy  lot  of  one  acre  was  deeded  by  Stephen  Pickering,  of 
Greenland,  and  Daniel  Pickering,  of  Wolfeborough,  to  Samuel 
Avery,  Nathaniel  Rogers,  Henry  R.  Parker,  Henry  Rust,  3d, 
James  Folsom,  Henry  H.  Orne,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  James 
Hersey,  of  Tuftonborough. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors  held  October  21,  1820,  the  fol- 
lowing persons  were  chosen  trustees:  Henry  H.  Orne,  Samuel 
Avery,  Samuel  Fox,  James  Hersey,  Samuel  Parker,  William 
Pickering,  Asa  Piper,  Samuel  Peabody,  Henry  R.  Parker,  Jona- 
than Blake,  and  Nathaniel  Shannon.  Henry  H.  Orne  subsequent- 
ly declined  serving,  and  Joseph  Farrar  was  chosen  in  his  stead. 

It  is  probable  that  the  academy  building  was  raised  and  partly 
finished  in  1820.  At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  July,  1821, 
money  was  raised  to  complete  the  building,  and  the  school  went 
into  operation  the  following  September  under  the  direction  of 
John  P.  Cleveland.  The  land  and  building  cost  about  two  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  in  addition  there  was  a  fund  of  two  thousand 
dollars,  a  considerable  portion  of  which  was  donated  by  William 
Guppy. 

In  1823  the  board  of  officers  of  the  Academy  consisted  of  Rev. 
Asa  Piper,  of  Wakefield,  president ;  Daniel  Pickering,  Esq.,  of 
Wolfeborough,  secretary  and  treasurer ;  Dr.  Nathaniel  Shannon, 
of  Moultonborough,  Jonathan  Blake,  Esq.,  of  Wolfeborough, 
Jeremiah  Woodman,  Esq.,  of  Rochester,  Samuel  Fox,  Esq.,  of 
Wolfeborough,  Samuel  Peabody,  Esq.,  of  Epsom,  Henry  R. 
Parker,  Esq.,  of  Wolfeborough,  James  Hersey,  Esq.,  of  Tufton- 
borough, Samuel  Avery,  Esq.,  of  Wolfeborough,  Samuel  Larkin, 
Esq.,  of  Portsmouth,  Joseph  Farrar,  Esq.,  of  Wolfeborough, 
trustees.  At  the  fall  term  of  the  Academy  there  were  forty-four 
students,  thirty-eight  males  and  six  females.  Here  is  a  list  of 
them,  their  names  following  their  residences  : — 


404  HISTORY  OF  V70LFEBOROUGH. 

Males — Wolfeborough,  Ebenezer  Allen,  Augustine  D.  Avery, 
Enoch  Banfield,  George  B.  Farrar,  Albert  W.  Home,  Charles 
Nowell,  Samuel  J.  Stevenson,  Nathaniel  Towle,  George  Yeaton ; 
Meredith,  Charles  Bean;  Parsonsfield,  Me.,  Ebenezer  Blazo, 
Robert  Blazo,  Mark  Chapman;  Somersworth,  Oliver  P.  Carr; 
Shapleigh,  Me.,  Arthur  Bragdon ;  New  Durham,  Benjamin  F. 
Chesley,  Thomas  Davis,  Reuben  Hayes ;  Wakefield,  Nathaniel 
Cook,  George  W.  Dow,  Elijah  Drew,  Henry  A.  P.  B.  Hyde,  Wil- 
liam Sawyer;  Ossipee,  James  Fogg;  Sandwich,  Otis  French,  Al- 
bert G.  Hoitt,  William  H.  H.  Hoitt,  Caleb  Marston,  Jacob  J. 
Severance ;  Alton,  Woodbridge  Osborne ;  Epsom,  Charles  A. 
Peabody ;  Milton,  James  Plummer ;  Bartlett,  Nathaniel  Seavey ; 
Portsmouth,  Henry  Waldron,  Augustus  Shapleigh;  Barnstead, 
Mark  Walker,  Isaac  Garland ;  Tamworth,  Noah  Gilman.  Females 
—Wolfeborough,  Maria  Guppy,  Mary  C.  Mclntire;  Wakefield, 
Mary  Davis ;  Sandwich,  Mary  Hanson ;  Madbury,  Mary  A.  Joy ; 
Gilmanton,  Mary  S.  Weeks. 

In  1824  Messrs.  Shannon,  Peabody,  Larkin,  Blake,  Fox,  and 
Parker  retired  from  the  board  of  trustees,  and  their  places  were 
filled  by  Daniel  Hoitt,  of  Sandwich,  Samuel  Quarles,  of  Ossipee, 
and  Samuel  Cate,  Daniel  Pickering,  Paul  H.  Varney,  and  Thomas 
Rust,  of  Wolfeborough.  In  the  summer  of  1827  the  upper  stor> 
of  the  Academy  building  was  finished  for  a  chapel.  In  1831 
Daniel  Pickering,  Samuel  Avery,  Joseph  Farrar,  Thomas  Rust, 
Paul  H.  Varney,  Henry  B.  Rust,  David  T.  Livy,  and  Enos  Mer- 
rill, of  Wolfeborough,  James  Hersey,  of  Tuftonborough,  John 
Wingate  of  Wakefield,  and  Andrew  Pierce,  of  Dover,  were  elected 
trustees.  This  board  continued  in  office  by  the  filling  of  vacancies 
that  occurred  from  time  to  time  until  1857. 

Mr.  Cleveland,  the  first  preceptor  of  the  Academy  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  James  Towner,  Mr.  Bailey,  W.  H.  H.  Hoitt,  Rev. 
Enos  Merrill,  Erastus  Perry,  Rev.  Thomas  P.  Beach,  Charles 
Duren,  Rev.  Nehemiah  C.  Coffin,  Mr.  Fowler,  Rev.  Jeffries  Hall. 
William  H.  Farrar,  Benjamin  Stanton,  Joseph  G.  Bartlett, 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUQ-H. 


405 


Goodale  Vittum,  Joseph  B.  Clark,  B.  L.  Pease,  Ambrose  Smith, 
Charles  H.  Hersey,  and  John  Wingate./'.' 

The  period  of  the  greatest  prosperity  of  the  Academy  under 
the  original  charter  was  probably  in  1836,  when  under  the  man- 
agemeut  of  Rev.  Thomas  Parnell  Beach.  The  trustees  were  Rev. 
Joshua  Dodge,  of  Moultonborough,  Thomas  Rust,  Daniel  Pick 
ering,  Samuel  Avery,  Joseph  Farrar,  Paul  H.  Varney,  Hon. 
Henry  B.  Rust,  Nathaniel  Rogers,  of  Wolfeborough,  William  H. 
Copp,  of  Tuftonborough,  Dr.  Thomas  J.  Tebbetts,  of  Wolfe- 
borough,  Hon.  Benning  Bean,  of  Moultonborough.  The  instruc- 
tors were :  "Rev.  T.  Parnell  Beach,  Principal ;  Z.  Bachelder,  Esq., 
Prof.  Ancient  Languages ;  Charles  G.  Weeks,  Teacher  in  Mathe- 
matics ;  Miss  M.  A.  Eastman,  Teacher  in  Languages ;  Miss  M. 
Barker,  Teacher  in  Ornamental  Branches ;  Miss  N.  Varney,  Miss 
Caroline  Orne,  and  Miss  C.  B.  Coffin,  Assistant  Teachers."  The 
students  at  the  fall  term  numbered  ninety-five,  forty-nine  males 
and  forty-six  females.  Their  names  follow : — 

Males— Wolfeborough,  J.  Banfield,  D.  Bassett,  L.  S.  Coffin,  C. 
Coleman,  J.  Colby,  E.  Doe,  C.  H.  Parker,  B.  F.  Parker,  W.  A. 
Piper,  J.  Rust,  H.  L.  Rust,  D.  N.  Stoddard,  Wm.  Whidden,  D. 
Whitten ;  Sandwich,  J.  R.  Bradbury ;  Middleton,  A.  J.  Chadwick ; 
Wakefield,  A.  Copp,  G.  W.  Copp,  W.  Cotton,  W.  A.  Maleham ; 
Tuftonborough,  J.  W.  Dame,  E.  Piper,  J.  Piper,  C.  Smith ;  Alton, 
G.  W.  Evans,  O.  Gilman,  A.  Gilman,  J.  E.  Hays,  D.  Hays,  J. 
Home,  C.  C.  Mooney,  H.  Mooney,  J.  B.  Mooney,  J.  L.  Place, 
C.  G.  Willey ;  Brownfield,  Me.,  M.  S.  Hadley,  S.  B.  Hadley ;  New 
Durham,  E.  Hays,  J.  H.  Hays ;  Tamworth,  N.  Hubbard,  J.  Wat- 
son, G.  H.  Woodman,  N.  H.  Woodman ;  Farmington,  J.  C. 
Roberts,  G.  P.  Waldron,  H.  Wilson ;  Moultonborough,  N. 
Shannon ;  Meredith,  C.  P.  Towle ;  Madbury,  B.  H.  Twombly. 

Females — Wolfeborough,  E.  Atkinson,  H.  Bassett,  R.  Bassett, 
G.  Bassett,  C.  P.  Coffin,  C.  B.  Coffin,  S.  Coffin,  O.  Doe,  E. 
Fernald,  J.  Fox,  M.  Furbur,  P.  Furbur,  S.  Libbey,  H.  Livy,  C. 
Livy,  M.  A.  Mason,  C.  Orne,  J.  C.  Paine,  C.  D.  Pickering,  Mary 


406 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Rogers,  Martha  Rogers,  S.  Rust,  H.  Rust,  M.  J.  Shaw,  S.  Shaw, 
M.  J.  Tebbetts,  C.  Tebbetts,  N.  White ;  Meredith,  M.  S.  Bean,  H. 
A.  Neal ;  Alton,  E.  Chamberlain,  A.  Stevens  ;  Wakefield,  L.  Copp  ; 
Tuftonborough,  M.  A.  Copp,  A.  Davis;  Tamworth,  E.  A.  Dow, 
S.  Hubbard,  S.  Rernick ;  Moultonborough,  A.  Shannon,  E.  Shan- 
non, F.  Shannon,  S.  Shannon ;  Sandwich,  L.  A.  Weed,  S.  A. 
Weed ;  Parsonsfield,  Me.,  M.  Marston,  E.  Meader.  These  names 
were  enrolled  in  the  "Catalogue  of  the  Officers  and  Students  of 
the  Academy  &  Female  Seminary  at  Wolfeborough  Bridge,  X. 
H."  Forty  by-laws  were  adopted  relating  to  the  qualifications  of 
teachers  and  students,  and  the  conduct  of  the  latter.  These  only 
are  noticed : — 

Students  were  not  allowed  to  walk  in  the  fields  or  streets  on  the 
Sabbath  except  for  the  purpose  of  attending  public  worship ;  were 
forbidden  to  utter  indecent  or  profane  language  or  drink  intoxi- 
cants ;  were  required  to  furnish  brushes  and  brooms,  and  if  re- 
quested by  the  teacher,  to  sweep  the  school-rooms.  Tuition  was 
to  be  paid  in  advance,  and  was  remitted  in  case  of  sickness  or 
necessary  absence.  Two  commodious  boarding-houses  were  pro- 
vided where  students  could  board  with  teachers  at  one  and  a 
quarter  dollars  per  week,  an  advance  in  price  to  be  made  when 
provisions  were  high,  and  a  deduction  allowed  to  those  who  fur- 
nished their  wood,  lights,  or  washing.  The  tuition  per  term  was 
from  two  to  seven  dollars. 

A  lyceum  was  connected  with  the  institution,  which  was  free 
to  students  and  citizens  alike.  This  flourished  for  years,  and 
proved  a  great  public  benefit.  For  the  third  of  a  century  that  fol- 
lowed a  larger  proportion  of  the  people  of  Wolfeborough  could 
address  an  audience  forcibly  and  interestingly  than  during  any 
period  of  its  antecedent  or  subsequent  history. 

Among  the  students  attending  the  Academy  in  1820,  was 
Henry  Wilson,  of  Farmington,  who  afterwards  became  Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States.  The  arrival  of  Wilson  gave  a  fresh 
impetus  to  the  lyceum.  He  was  an  attractive  speaker,  and  very 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


407 


fond  of  debating.  Others  were  stimulated  by  his  example,  and 
the  principal  school-room  was  crowded  weekly  by  interested 
audiences.  Further  notice  of  Mr.  Wilson  will  be  found  in  the 
sketch  of  Samuel  Avery.  The  Honorable  "Long  John"  Went- 
worth,  of  Chicago,  was  another  student. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Academy  in  1857,  at 
which  John  Fox  presided  and  John  M.  Brackett  acted  as  secre- 
tary, Zachariah  Bachelder,  Abel  Haley,  John  M.  Brackett, 
Jeremiah  F.  Hall,  Joseph  L.  Avery,  Moses  Thompson,  Moses  T. 
Gate,  Charles  H.  Parker,  Thomas  L.  Whitton,  George  W.  Hersey, 
and  John  L.  Meder  were  elected  trustees.  At  an  adjourned  meet- 
ing it  was  voted  to  raise  two  thousand  dollars  for  the  purpose  of 
repairing  the  Academy,  and  John  M.  Brackett,  Abel  Haley, 
Joseph  L.  Avery,  Charles  H.  Parker,  and  Charles  Remick  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  superintend  the  work. 

The  Academy  was  continued  with  varied  success  until  1866, 
when  the  property  was  leased  by  the  Christian  Society  on  con- 
ditions. E.  T.  Moulton  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  school, 
which  was  called  the  "Christian  Institute."  He  was  followed  by 
John  W.  Lary  and  George  F.  Chase.  In  1870  John  W.  Symonds 
succeeded  Mr.  Chase,  and  remained  two  years,  when  the  "In- 
stitute" was  removed  from  Wolfeborough. 

In  1874  the  old  trustees  voted  to  re-open  the  school.  In  1876 
DeWitt  Durgin  was  in  charge.  In  1878  the  use  of  the  school 
building  was  granted  to  school  district  number  seventeen,  on  con- 
dition that  a  high  school  should  be  kept  in  it.  In  1887  the  old 
charter  was  amended,  and  the  name  changed  to  "Brewster  Free 
Academy." 

The  will  of  John  Brewster,  dated  January  17,  1883,  and  proved 
February  23,  1886,  shows  the  occasion  of  amending  the  charter 
of  the  Wolfeborough  and  Tuftonborough  Academy  and  the  estab- 
lishing of  the  Brewster  Free  Academy.  This  will  may  be  found 
in  another  chapter. 

Here  follows  the  charter  of  the  Brewster  Free  Academy : — 


408 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


STATE  OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


In  the  Year  of  our  Lord  One  Thousand,  Eight  Hundred  and 

Eighty-Seven. 

An  act  to  Amend  the  Charter  of  the  Wolfborough  and  Tufton- 
borough  Academy. 

Be   it   enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  :n 
General  Court  convened : 

Section  1.  The  name  of  the  Wolfborough  and  Tuftonborough 
Academy  is  hereby  changed  to  the  Brewster  Free  Academy. 

Section  2.  The  entire  affairs  of  the  corporation  shall  be  under 
the  general  management  of  a  board  of  trustees,  constituted  in 
the  manner  described  in  the  next  section  of  this  act.  Said  board 
may  fully  exercise  all  corporate  powers  and  transact  all  corporate 
business.  A  majority  of  the  trustees  shall  constitute  a  quorum 
for  the  transaction  of  business.  The  trustees  may  from  time  to 
time,  make  such  regulations  and  by-laws,  not  repugnant  to  the 
constitution  and  laws  of  this  State,  for  the  management  of  the 
interests  and  concerns  of  said  Corporation,  as  they  may  think 
proper;  and  also  appoint  such  and  so  many  officers  and  agents 
as  they  may  think  proper  and  prescribe  their  powers  and  duties. 

Section  3.  The  board  of  trustees  shall  hereafter  be  composed  of 
eleven  members,  four  of  whom  shall  be  members  ex-officio,  and 
seven  of  whom  shall  be  selected  as  hereinafter  provided.  The 
four  ex-officio  members  shall  be  the  principal  of  the  Academy,  to 
be  elected  by  the  board,  and  the  three  trustees  under  the  seventh 
or  residuary  clause  in  the  will  of  John  Brewster ;  the  three  present 
trustees  being  William  Brewster,  John  L.  Brewster  and  Arthur 
Estabrook.  The  trustees  under  said  will  and  their  several  suc- 
cessors in  said  trust  under  said  will,  shall  each  be  trustees  of  the 
Academy  so  long  as  they  severally  remain  trustees  under  said 
will.  The  seven  following  persons  shall  constitute  the  remain- 
ing members  of  the  board,  viz. :  Jeremiah  Smith,  of  Dover,  John 


EC//IN   H.   LORD,  A   M. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


409 


K.  Lord,  of  Hanover,  Charles  U.  Bell,  of  Lawrence,  and  Joseph 
L.  Avery,  Benjamin  F.  Parker,  Albert  W.  Wiggin,  and  Charles 
H.  Parker,  of  Wolfborough,  the  seven  trustees  last  named  shall 
at  the  first  meeting  draw  lots  for  terms  of  one,  two,  three,  four, 
five,  six  and  seven  years,  respectively.  Thereafter  the  term  of  one 
member  shall  expire  each  year  according  to  said  drawing,  and  at 
the  annual  meeting  of  each  year  a  trustee  to  serve  for  seven  years 
shall  be  elected  by  the  board  to  take  the  place  of  the  retiring 
member.  The  retiring  member  shall  be  eligible  for  re-election, 
but  shall  have  no  vote  in  such  election.  If  a  vacancy  shall  occur 
among  the  aforesaid  seven  trustees  or  their  successors  at  any 
other  time  than  the  expiration  of  a  term,  the  board  shall  elect  a 
trustee  to  serve  for  the  unexpired  balance  of  the  term.  A  majority 
of  the  board  of  eleven  trustees  shall  consist  of  persons  who  are 
not  inhabitants  of  Wolfborough  or  of  towns  adjacent  thereto. 

Section  4.  The  Corporation  may  purchase,  lease,  erect  and 
maintain  suitable  buildings ;  may  receive  and  expend  the  income 
bequeathed  by  John  Brewster  for  the  support  of  an  Academy ; 
and  may  receive  by  gift,  devise,  purchase  or  otherwise,  and  hold, 
manage  and  dispose  of  for  the  purpose  of  the  Academy,  real  and 
person  estate  to  the  amount  of  five  hundred  thousand  dollars  in 
value.  Said  property  and  income,  so  long  as  it  continues  to  be- 
long to  said  Academy  shall  be  exempt  from  taxation. 

Section  5.  The  principles  and  precepts  of  the  Christian  religion 
shall  be  inculcated,  but  the  Academy  shall  not  be  a  denomina- 
tional or  sectarian  school. 

Section  6.  The  first  meeting  of  the  board  of  trustees  may  be 
railed  by  anyone  of  said  trustees  by  a  notice  in  writing,  stating 
the  time  and  place  of  meeting,  sent  by  mail  to  each  -of  the  other 
corporators  at  least  one  week  prior  thereto. 

Section  7.  Tf  any  persons  claiming  to  be  stockholders  or  cor- 
porators in  the  Wolfborough  and  Tuftonborough  Academy  shall 
within  two  months  after  the  passage  of  this  act  give  notice  to  the 


4IO  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

trustees  of  the  Brewster  Free  Academy,  that  they  object  to  the 
amendments  herein  made,  said  tmstes  shall,  within  one  month 
thereafter,  apply  by  petition  to  the  County  Commissioners  for  the 
County  of  Carroll  to  ascertain  the  respective  interests  of  the  per- 
sons so  giving  notice  and  to  assess  the  pecuniary  value  thereof. 
The  proceedings  before  the  Commissioners  upon  such  petition 
shall  be  similar  in  substance  to  those  prescribed  when  petitions 
for  the  laying  out  of  highways  are  referred  to  the  Commissioners 
and  the  report  shall  be  returned  to  the  Supreme  Court.  Such  re- 
port shall  be  final  unless  one  or  more  of  said  stockholders  or  cor- 
porators shall  appeal  from  the  asssessment  of  value ;  in  which 
case  the  same  proceedings  shall  be  had  as  on  appeal  from  an 
award  of  damages  by  the  Commissioners  in  laying  out  a  high- 
way. Upon  the  payment  or  tender  of  the  sum  or  sums  so  as- 
sessed by  the  Commissioners  or  (in  case  of  appeal)  upon  the 
deposit  with  the  County  Treasurer  of  said  sums  and  also  filing 
with  the  Treasurer  reasonable  security  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
Commissioners  for  the  payment  of  any  further  damage  and  costs, 
which  may  be  awarded  upon  said  appeal,  the  respective  interests 
of  the  aforesaid  stockholders  or  corporators  shall  be  completely 
divested.  Any  stockholders  or  corporators  who  do  not  give 
notice  as  aforesaid  within  two  months  shall  be  deemed  to  have 
assented  to  the  amendments  herein  made. 

Section  8.  This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 

Approved  June  23,    1887." 

The  following  extracts  taken  from  the  latest  catalogue  of  the 
Brewster  Free  Academy  will  give  an  idea  as  to  the  character  of 
the  school  and  its  requirements : — 

"Applicants  for  admission  are  required  to  furnish  testimonials 
that  they  sustain  a  good  moral  character,  and  a  certificate  from 
their  last  school  is  desirable.  They  must  also  pass  a  satisfactory 
examination  in  the  elements  of  Arithmetic  and  of  English  Gram- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  4II 

mar,  in  modern  Geography,  and  in  the  History  of  the  United 
States.  Only  those  who  are  able  and  willing  to  work  hard  should 
apply  for  admission." 

"The  formation  of  character  is  a  leading  aim  of  the  school,  and 
no  one  whose  influence  is  opposed  to  this  purpose  will  be  allowed 
to  remain.  Pupils  are  expected  to  be  ladies  and  gentlemen,  and 
in  this  simple  statement  is  included  the  substance  of  our  require- 
ments. Idlers  will  be  promptly  excluded." 

"The  school  day  begins  with  devotional  exercises,  and  the 
students  are  required  to  attend  divine  worship  at  one  of  the 
churches  in  town  on  Sunday  morning." 

"Two  courses  of  study  are  provided  one  furnishing  ample  prep- 
aration for  college,  the  other  equal  to  the  first  in  disciplinary 
value,  but  so  framed  as  to  allow  some  latitude  for  choice  on  the 
part  of  the  student,  according  to  his  needs  and  purposes.  It  is 
intended  to  establish  a  course  of  Manual  Training  as  soon  as 
practicable." 

"The  spirit  and  method  of  instruction  are  modern  in  all  sub- 
jects. Ample  laboratory  facilities  are  supplied  for  the  students  in 
science." 

At  the  opening  of  the  Academy  in  1887,  the  students  num- 
bered forty-seven.  The  teachers  were  Edwin  H  Lord,  A.  M., 
principal ;  Lydia  F.  Remick  and  Edwin  H.  Ross,  assistants. 
Here  follows  a  list  of  teachers  since  1887:  Alice  S.  Rollins  (Mrs. 
Edwin  F.  Brewster),  Helen  M.  Cobb  (Mrs.  Calvin  M.  Clark), 
Frederick  H.  Safford,  George  C.  Kimball,  Isaac  E.  Pearl,  John 
C.  Sanborn,  Jr.,  Fannie  A.  Ober  (Mrs.  Frank  A.  Coolidge), 
Edwin  T.  Brewster,  Lottie  A.  Jones,  Lillye  T.  Lewis  (Mrs.  S. 
Percy  R.  Chadwick),  Florence  Adams,  Hershel  Wilder  Lewis, 
Mary  L.  Graffam,  Louis  J.  West,  Cornelia  Park.  Messrs.  Pearl, 
Sanborn  and  Lew:is  and  Misses  Ober  and  Adams  acted  as  sub- 
stitutes. The  present  teachers  are :  Edwin  H.  Lord,  A.  M.,  prin- 
cipal ;  S.  Percy  R.  Chadwick,  A.  M.,  Herbert  E.  Sargent,  B.  S., 
W.  Herbert  Terrill,  A.  M.,  Mary  Ella  Carter,  B.  L.,  S.  Marian 


412 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Chadbourne,  A.  B.,  Mabel  L.  Hersom,  B.  L.  In  1900  there  were 
one  hundred  and  thirty-five  students.  The  first  class  was  grad- 
uated in  1890  and  consisted  of  seven  members.  The  alumni  now 
number  one  hundred  and  forty-three. 

The  present  board  of  trustees  consists  of  William  Brewster, 
Cambridge,  Mass. ;  John  L.  Brewster,  president,  Andover,  Mass. ; 
Arthur  F.  Estabrook,  treasurer,  Boston,  Mass. ;  Edwin  H.  Lord, 
James  C.  Melvin,  Boston,  Mass. ;  *Benjamin  F.  Parker, 
Nathaniel  H.  Scott,  John  K.  Lord,  Hanover,  N.  H. ;  Charles  U. 
Bell,  secretary,  Andover,  Mass. ;  Charles  S.  Murkland,  Durham, 
N.  H. ;  Sewall  W.  Abbott. 

The  Wolfeborough  and  Tuftonborough  Academy  building,  by 
a  vote  of  its  proprietors,  was  transferred  to  the  trustees  of  the 
Brewster  Free  Academy.  It  was  used  by  the  Academy  until  the 
completion  of  the  south  wing  of  the  new  building  in  1890.  It 
was  then  donated  to  the  town  of  Wolfeborough  for  a  school- 
house,  on  condition  that  it  should  be  removed,  the  ground 
leveled,  and  a  street  made  on  its  northern  side.  These  conditions 
were  complied  with,  and  the  building  is  now  known  as  the 
"Pickering  School-house,"  and  accommodates  four  schools,  one 
of  which  is  the  town  grammar.  The  Academy  grounds  consist 
of  forty  acres  of  land  sloping  from  the  main  street  of  the  village 
to  the  shore  of  Lake  Winnipesaukee,  on  which  they  border  for 
the  distance  of  half  a  mile.  The  views  from  the  grounds  to  the 
lake  and  from  the  lake  to  the  grounds  are  alike  beautiful.  On 
the  grounds  are  the  "Estabrook"  and  "Annex"  buildings  pro- 
vided by  the  liberality  of  one  of  the  trustees  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  teachers  and  a  limited  number  of  students.  Here  also  are 
the  residences  of  Principal  Lord  and  Mr.  Chadwick.  The  com- 
pleted wing  of  the  Academy  building  is  of  pressed  brick,  and  cost 
$35,000.  The  cost  of  the  whole  building,  when  completed  as  de- 
signed, will  be  $150.000. 

*  Deceased. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


413 


Few  towns  in  New  Hampshire  have  so  good,  and  none  better 
educational  advantages  than  does  Wolfeborough.  Its  schools, 
which  are  in  session  two-thirds  of  the  year,  are  made  convenient 
for  every  pupil,  as  in  the  more  remote  or  sparsely  populated 
neighborhoods  they  are  conveyed  from  their  homes  to  the  school- 
house  free  of  expense.  Having  reached  a  proper  degree  of  ad- 
vancement, they  are  admitted  to  the  Brewster  Free  Academy, 
and  without  any  expense  for  tuition  or  books  are  fitted  for  col- 
lege or  the  busy  affairs  of  life. 

In  1804  a  social  library  was  established  in  Wolfeborough,  the 
leader  of  the  movement  being  Isaiah  Home,  who  was  the  most 
scholarly  person  in  the  town  at  that  time.  The  history  of  the 
library  follows: 

At  a  meeting  of  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  Wolfeborough 
and  parts  adjacent,  to  take  into  consideration  the  propriety  of 
establishing  a  library,  held  at  the  schoolhouse  above  Smith's 
Bridge,  January  10,  Isaiah  Home  was  chosen  moderator,  Samuel 
Nowell,  clerk ;  John  L.  Piper,  treasurer  and  librarian.  Piper, 
Home,  Nowell,  Daniel  Brewster,  and  William  Guppy  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  draft  a  constitution,  and  Samuel  Meder, 
Henry  Wiggin,  James  \Viggin,  Samuel  Fox,  Jonathan  Blake, 
George  Brewster,  William  C.  Warren,  James  Hersey,  Benjamin 
Home,  and  Samuel  Mason,  with  the  above-named  committee 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  determine  the  books  that  should 
constitute  the  library.  It  was  also  voted  that  the  price  of  a  share 
in  the  library  should  be  two  dollars. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  held  on  the  twenty-first  day  of  the 
same  month,  a  constitution  consisting  of  thirteen  articles  was 
adopted.  By  this  it  was  determined  that  the  officers  of  the  society 
should  consist  of  a  president,  a  secretary,  a  treasurer,  a  librarian, 
and  three  inspectors,  the  duty  of  the  last  named  officers  being  to 
make  a  semi-annual  examination  of  the  books  in  the  library. 
Members  of  the  association  were  required  to  pay  an  annual  tax 
of  thirty-four  cents,  and  were  allowed  to  take  one  book  from  the 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

library,  which  they  were  to  return  within  two  months  or  subject 
themselves  to  a  fine. 

The  library  was  to  be  kept  on  the  main  road  in  the  southwest 
part  of  the  town,  between  the  dwellings  of  William  Guppy  and 
Samuel  Meder.  Subsequently  the  price  of  a  share  in  the  library 
was  raised  to  three  dollars,  although  two  dollars  was  the  more 
common  price.  The  annual  tax  varied  from  thirty-four  to  twelve 
and  a  half  cents,  and  was  finally  fixed  at  twenty  cents.  The  per- 
sons who  signed  the  constitution  and  became  members  of  the 
society  were  Daniel  Brewster,  Jr.,  Isaiah  Home,  Samuel  Nowell, 
Jonathan  Blake,  Henry  Horn,  William  Chamberlain,  Andrew 
Lucas,  William  Mallard,  Samuel  Mason,  Andrew  Wiggin,  James 
Wiggin,  Benjamin  Young,  William  C.  V/arren,  Jacob  Folsom, 
Widow  Annah  Fullerton,  Elijah  Estes,  George  Brewster,  John 
L.  Piper,  John  Piper,  James  Hersey,  Levi  Tibbetts,  David  Copp, 
Benjamin  Home,  Neal  Gate,  James  Fullerton,  Andrew  Wiggin, 
Jr.,  Henry  Wiggin,  Ebenezer  Meder,  Jr.,  Samuel  G.  Piper,  Wil- 
liam Guppy,  David  Piper,  William  Fullerton,  Samuel  Meder, 
Benjamin  Blake,  Samuel  Fox,  William  Copp,  Samuel  Johnson, 
Stephen  W.  Home,  William  Rogers,  Oliver  Smith,  Samuel  Con- 
nor, James  Connor,  Jr.,  John  Edmonds,  Benning  Brackett, 
Ichabod  Libbey,  Jonathan  Hersey,  Thomas  W.  Chase,  William 
Kent,  Joshua  Avery,  Jesse  Whitten,  and  Daniel  Bassett.  Several 
volumes  were  contributed  by  individuals,  and  about  ninety,  most- 
ly historical  works,  purchased.  These,  in  accordance  with  the 
constitution,  were  covered  with  leather. 

In  June  of  the  same  year  the  society  was  incorporated  by  the 
"name  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Republican  Social  Library  in 
Wolfborough,"  and  Samuel  Nowell  and  Jonathan  Blake  were 
authorized  to  call  the  first  meeting  of  the  proprietors.  A  meet- 
ing was  accordingly  called  on  the  third  day  of  the  following  Sep- 
tember, and  Isaiah  Home  was  chosen  president ;  Samuel  Meder, 
clerk  :  John  L.  Piper,  librarian  and  treasurer ;  and  Samuel  Nowell. 
William  Rogers,  and  George  Brewster,  a  committee  of  inspec- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

tion.  Mr.  Piper  held  the  office  of  librarian  until  1817.  He  was 
then  succeeded  by  Samuel  Meder,  who  retained  the  office  one 
year,  and  was  in  turn  succeeded  by  George  Nowell.  The  year 
following  Richard  Rust  was  chosen  librarian.  Mr.  Rust  was 
elected  three  successive  years,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son, 
Thomas  Rust,  who  held  the  office  for  twenty  years,  or  until  1843, 
when  Georgq  B.  Farrar  took  his  place.  In  1845  Zachariah 
Bachelder  became  librarian,  and  in  1846  Joseph  Avery  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  office.  About  fifty  persons  became  members  of 
the  association,  exclusive  of  those  who  united  with  it  at  the  time 
of  its  organization.  It  was  justly  regarded  as  a  valuable  institu- 
tion at  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  and  from  it  many 
of  the  citizens  of  the  town  acquired  a  stock  of  knowledge  that 
could  not  otherwise  have  been  obtained.  William  Fox,  Esq.,  was 
librarian  for  several  of  the  last  years  of  the  existence  of  the 
library ;  but  as  it  received  but  few  additions,  it  was  little  used,  and 
in  1888  was  sold  at  auction. 

There  was  for  a  long  time  a  circulating  library  owned  by  the 
inhabitants  of  North  Wolfeborough  and  the  adjacent  part  of 
Ossipee. 

The  Brewster  Library,  established  under  the  provisions  of  John 
Brewster's  will,  was  first  thrown  open  to  the  public  in  March, 
1890.  In  March,  1900,  the  town  voted  to  establish  a  library  com- 
mission and  this  body  has  co-operated  with  the  trustees  since 
that  date.  Both  libraries  are  in  the  same  building  and  in  charge 
of  the  same  librarian.  The  stacks  now  contain  seventeen  hundred 
and  fifty  well-selected  volumes,  exclusive  of  pamphlets  and  the 
periodicals  and  newspapers  of  the  reading  room.  Of  these  four- 
teen hundred  and  twenty-six  have  been  purchased  by  the  Brewster 
estate  and  three  hundred  and  twenty-four  from  the  town  fund. 
The  present  library  commissioners  are  Rev.  Andrew  Hahn.  Ed- 
ward F.  Gate,  and  Pierce  A.  Home. 

There  have  been  two  librarians,  George  E.  Sleeper  and  the 
present  incumbent.  Miss  Inez  Brewster.  There  have  also  been 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


several  substitutes  from  time  to  time.  Thus,  with  the  exception 
of  a  very  brief  interim,  Wolfeborough  has  had  some  sort  of  a 
public  library  for  nearly  a  century. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

SOLDIERS  OF  1812 — CIVIL  WAR — PROVISION  FOR  SOLDIERS  AND 
THEIR  FAMILIES — ENLISTED  SOLDIERS — RESIDENT  SURVIV- 
ORS —  MAJOR  JAMES  R.  NEWELL  —  MAJOR  WILLIAM 
H.  TRICKEY — CAPTAIN  ALVAH  S.  LIBBEY — OFFICERS  WHO 
BECAME  PROMINENT — CIVIL  LIST  OF  THE  TOWN. 

F'EWr,  if  any,  soldiers  from  Wolfeborough  enlisted  in  the  War  of 
1812.  During  its  progress  an  English  fleet  appeared  off  the 
harbor  of  Portsmouth,  and  a  draft  was  made  on  the  New  Hamp- 
shire militia.  The  enrolled  soldiers  of  Wolfeborough  were  about 
this  time  divided  into  two  companies,  the  first  and  the  sixth. 
They  were  both  attached  to  the  twenty-seventh  regiment.  The 
following  persons  were  drafted  from  the  first  company :  Isaac 
Edmonds,  Jonathan  Gale,  Joseph  Edmonds,  Nathaniel  G.  Home, 
James  Rogers,  Benjamin  Tibbetts,  Alpheus  Swett,  John  Fuller- 
ton,  Jacob  Hersey,  John  Shepherd,  John  Wiggin,  John  W. 
Home,  Andrew  Lucas.  From  the  sixth  company  were  drafted 
these :  Thomas  Stevenson,  John  Willey,  Isaac  Martin,  George 
W.  Cotton,  John  Drew,  Jr.,  John  Jenness,  Isaac  Poor,  Jonathan 
Cook,  Samuel  Fernald,  Joseph  Hoitt,  Samuel  Nudd.  They  re- 
ceived from  the  town  wages  at  the  rate  of  ten  dollars  a  month. 
In  advanced  life  the  survivors  became  pensioners  of  the  govern- 
ment. 

During  the  Civil  War  the  town  made  ample  provision  for  its 
citizen  soldiers  and  their  families,  as  is  shown  by  the  following 
record  of  its  action  : — 

October  14,  1861,  voted  to  raise  five  hundred  dollars  to  aid 
the  families  of  soldiers.  John  Wingate,  Jr.,  Alphonzo  H.  Rust, 
and  Joseph  Bickford  were  appointed  a  disbursing  committee. 
1862.  February  22,  five  hundred  dollars  were  raised  for  the  same 

417 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


purpose,  and  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  add  fifty  per  cent 
to  that  sum  if  needed.  August  9,  voted  to  place  a  sum  not  ex- 
ceeding three  thousand  dollars  in  the  hands  of  the  disbursing 
committee,  and  to  pay  each  volunteer  under  the  call  for  volunteers 
a  bounty  of  two  hundred  dollars,  and  a  bounty  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars  to  each  person  who  should  volunteer  to  fill  the 
draft  ;  September  18,  voted  to  pay  each  person  who  should  enlist 
in  the  army  for  nine  months  three  hundred  dollars.  1863,  March, 
voted  five  thousand  dollars  for  the  benefit  of  soldiers'  families  ; 
September  9,  voted  to  pay  each  drafted  man  or  his  substitute 
three  hundred  dollars  ;  December  3,  this  sum  was  increased  fifty 
dollars.  1864,  May  12,  voted  to  pay  three  hundred  dollars  to 
each  person  who  should  enlist  in  the  army,  June  4,  voted  to  pay 
three  hundred  dollars  to  each  drafted  man  who  should  go  into 
the  army,  or  who  should  provide  a  substitute  ;  re-enlisted  soldiers 
were  to  receive  a  like  bounty  ;  July  7,  voted  to  pay  each  drafted 
man  three  hundred  dollars,  or  provide  him  with  a  substitute,  on 
condition  that  he  should  pay  one  hundred  dollars  to  the  town  ; 
Charles  F.  Hill  and  George  W.  Furber  were  appointed  recruit- 
ing agents  ;  August  23,  voted  to  pay  each  resident  who  should 
enlist  for  one  year  three  hundred  dollars,  for  two  years  four 
hundred  dollars,  for  three  years  five  hundred  dollars  ;  September 
i,  Woodbury  P.  Home,  Moses  Thompson,  and  John  L.  Haines 
were  made  recruiting  agents,  and  a  bounty  of  seven  hundred  dol- 
lars offered  to  each  person  who  should  enlist  for  one  year  ;  Dec. 
i,  voted  to  pay  to  any  citizen  enrolled  in  the  militia  one  hundred 
dollars,  if  he  should  procure  a  substitute  for  one  year,  two 
hundred  dollars  for  one  for  two  years,  and  three  hundred  dollars 
for  one  for  three  years.  In  1867,  voted  to  pay  one  hundred  dol- 
lars to  each  person  who  had  paid  commutation  money,  furnished 
a  substitute,  or  volunteered  to  serve  in  the  army.  March  10, 
1868,  voted  to  pay  one  hundred  dollars  to  each  soldier  a  citizen 
of  the  town  when  he  enlisted,  and  who  had  never  received  any 
town  bounty  from  this  or  any  other  town,  and  who  had  an  honor- 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


419 


able  discharge  from  the  service.  Most  of  the  money  used  during 
the  war  was  obtained  by  loan,  although  considerable  sums  were 
raised  bv  taxation. 


SOLDIERS    IN    THE    CIVIL    WAR    WHO    ENLISTED    FROM 
WOLFEBOROUGH. 


First  Infantry. 
John  W.  Fogg. 

Second  Infantry. 
Tames  Bresnehan. 
*John  S.  Varney,  wounded. 
Four  recruits,  or  substitutes. 

Third  Infantry. 
William  H.  Trickey,   wound- 
ed, promoted  Major,  now  a 
clergyman. 

Andrew  J.  Wadlea,   wounded, 
afterwards    promoted    Cap- 
tain. 
*Hanna  A.  Chesley. 

Lowell  Glidden. 
*Albert  Paris. 

Fourth  Infantry. 
One  Recruit. 

Fifth  Infantry. 

*Richard  R.  Davis,  Captain. 

*Henry  B.   Kendall,  2d  Lieut., 
returned      home      diseased, 
and  died  Oct.,  1862. 
John  \V.  Fogg,  second  enlist- 
ment. 


Lewis  A.  Chesley. 
Edgar  Avery,  wounded. 
*John   F.  Corson,   killed  June 
30,  1862. 

*  William  Huzzey,died  in  army. 

*  William  H.  Hayes. 
*Caleb  T.  Keniston. 

Charles  E.  Tebbetts. 

Charles  A.  Libbey. 

John  Doyle. 

Ezra  Nutt. 
*William  B.  Nason. 
*John    Sargent,   died   in   army 

Dec.  22,  1861. 
*Ezra  Tibbetts. 

James  W.  Hooper. 
*Samuel  Thomas. 

\Villiam  C.  Maleham. 
*John  C.  Wallace,  killed  Dec. 

13,  1862. 
-Ira  Whittle. 

*Charles   A.   Warren,   died   of 
wounds,  June  2,  1862. 

Charles  E.  Sargent. 

Peter  Protier. 

*  Jeremiah  Young,  wounded. 
Charles  O.  Doe. 


420 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


*Simeon  B.  Kenney. 

Benjamin  F.  Blaisdell. 

Thomas  E.  Mitchel. 
*Daniel      Kimball,      died      of 
wounds. 

One  recruit. 

Sixth  Infantry. 
*Charles  H.  Kimball. 
*Thomas  J.  Nute. 
Isaac  B.  Sawyer. 
Ten   recruits,   one,   James   C. 
Clement,  died  of  wounds. 

Seventh  Infantry. 
Three  recruits. 

Eighth  Infantry. 
*Alphonzo  G.  Colby,  Captain. 
*James    R.    Newell,    wounded 
and      prisoner,      promoted 
Major. 
*George  H.  Hurd,  died  Oct.  i, 

1862. 

James  W.  Johnson. 
Tobias  M.  Elliott. 
Henry  Marchington. 
*William  M.  Elliott. 
*Jeremiah  D.  Tebbetts. 
^Herbert  B.  Tebbetts,  died  in 

army  Jan.  9,  1863. 
Three  recruits. 

Ninth  Infantry. 
Two  recruits. 


Twelfth  Infantry. 
*Silas  May,  Captain,  promoted 
Captain    in    regular    army, 
wounded. 
*David  P.  Haines. 
*Joseph  Morgan,  Jr. 
Jacob    B.     Tuttle,    promoted 

Lieutenant. 
^Charles  A.  Warren. 
William  B.  Kendall. 
"'•Jacob  Hanson. 
Wilbur  W.  Swett. 

*  Charles  H.  Bickford. 
*Nathaniel  W.  Bradley. 
*Amos    E.    Bradley,    wounded 

June  3,  1862. 
*George  H.  Blake. 
*Greenlief  D.  Davis. 

Samuel  S.  Eaton. 
*Abial     C.     Eaton,     wounded 

June,  1864. 
*Japhet  Emery,  died  Jan.  27, 

1864. 

William  B.  Fullerton. 
George    B.    Frost,    wounded 

May  3,  1863. 
George  W.  Home. 
*Monroe  Hartshorn. 
^Thomas  R.  Home. 
*Oscar  F.  Home. 
John  M.  Kimball,  wounded. 

*  James  W.  Libbey,  died  Aug. 

27,  1863. 
William  B.  Pierce. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUQH. 


421 


William  Peavey. 
*John  W.  Stevens. 
*John  F.  Smith,  killed  July  2, 

1863. 
Isaac  Stevens,  wounded  July 

9,  1864. 
*Loring     Stoddard,     wounded 

May  3,  1863. 
*James  E.  Tebbetts,  died  Jan. 

1 6,  1863. 

Moses  Thompson. 
*Moses  F.  Thompson. 
*John  M.  Thompson,  died  of 

wounds  June  16,  1864. 
^Benjamin  Kimball. 
*Samuel  J.  Nutt. 
*Daniel  W.  Homer,  promoted 

Second  Lieutenant. 

Thirteenth  Infantry. 
John  H.  Beacham. 
*James    F.    Geralds,    died    in 
army. 

Fourteenth  Infantry. 
Albert    J.    Huzzey,    Quarter- 

master-Sargeant,  promoted 

2d  Lieut. 
Three  recruits. 

Fifteenth  Infantry. 
Jeremiah  F.  Hall,  Surgeon. 

Sixteenth  Infantry. 
Albert  J.  Hersey,  Captain. 


Albert  W.  Wig-gin,  ist  Lieut. 
*Alvah  S.  Libbey,  2nd  Lieut. 

*  George  P.  Cotton. 
Lewis  F.  Davis. 
Harlan  P.  Crain. 

*Charles  O.  Kendall,  died  July 

31,  1863. 
*Peter  C.  Seavey. 

Hollis  P.  Chapman. 
*Leonidas  J.  Avery,  died  July 

26,  1863. 

*Charles  H.  Bickford. 
*John  C.  Caryle. 
*Thomas  Chase. 

William  Corson. 

Joel  E.  Cook. 
*James  W.  Cross. 

*  James  C.  Dwight. 
*Moses  Emery. 
*Nathaniel  D.  Farnsworth. 

George  B.  Fogg. 

*  George  W.   Frost,  died  Apr. 

28,  1863. 

Joseph  P.  Heath. 
^Charles  E.  Johnson. 
*Ezra  F.  Johnson. 

Ezra  H.  Keniston. 

*  David  G.  Kimball. 
*John  W.  Lee. 
*Woodbury  L.  Leavitt. 

John  H.  Loud. 

*  Joseph  H.   Ricker,  died  July 

24,  1863. 
*Daniel  Rollins. 


422 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


*  Charles    G.    Sherwood,    died 

June  14,  1863. 
*Edward  Turner. 

Benjamin  Trickey. 
"Joseph  J.  Whitten. 

Joseph  H.  Chamberlin. 

Eighteen  Infantry. 
*Moses  T.  Gate,  Quartermas- 
ter. 
*Harris  W.  Morgan. 

Benjamin  B.  Thompson,  pro- 
moted Captain. 
Heavy  Artillery. 
*Alvah  S.  Libbey,  Captain,  sec- 
ond enlistment. 

George  W.  Home,  2d  Lieut., 
second  enlistment. 

John   W.   Fogg,   third   enlist- 
ment. 

Joseph  P.  Heath,  second  en- 
listment. 

Charles  S.  Paris. 

George  S.  Parker. 

James  Stevenson. 

John  M.  Avery. 

George  F.  Cate. 
*James  E.  Dore. 

Isaiah  K.  Drew. 

*  Charles  J.  Edgerly. 
*Elbridge  Gerry. 


Frank  B.  Home. 

George  J.  Jordan. 

Ezra  H.  Keniston,  second  en- 
listment. 

*Caleb  T.  Keniston,  second  en- 
listment. 
*John  Kane,  died  Fort  Sumner. 

George  E.  Kimball. 

George  F.  Kimball. 

Jones  Marden. 
*Alexander  T.  Raitt. 

George  W.  Warren. 
*  Joseph  J.  Whitten,  second  en- 
listment. 
^William  T.  Dore. 

Number  of  enlistments,  146. 

Number  of  recruits,  27. 

Number  of  commissioned  offi- 
cers, 15,  including  2  Majors, 
7  Captains,  4  Lieutenants, 
i  Quartermaster,  and  I  Sur- 
geon. 

Number  of  soldiers  killed  in 
battle,  4. 

Number  of  soldiers  who  died 
of  wounds,  4. 

Number  of  soldiers  who  died 
of  disease  in  army,  12. 

Number  of  soldiers  deceased, 
83- 


*Deceased. 

The   following  persons   who   enlisted   in   the   Civil  War   from 
Wolfeborough  are  still  residents  of  the  town :    John  H.  Beacham, 


MAJOR    ^AMES   R.   NEWELL 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


423 


James  Bresnehan,  Charles  O.  Doe,  Isaiah  K.  Drew,  Tobias  M. 
Elliott,  William  B.  Fullerton.  Joseph  P.  Heath,  James  \V. 
Hooper,  George  W.  Home,  Frank  B.  Home,  John  M.  Kimball, 
George  E.  Kimball,  George  F.  Kimball,  John  H.  Loud,  Jones 
Marden,  Ezra  Nutt,  Charles  S.  Paris,  William  B.  Kendall,  Charles 
E.  Sargent,  James  Stevenson,  George  W.  Warren,  Albert  W. 
Wiggin,  George  F.  Gate. 

Major  James  Robert  Newell  was  born  in  Brookfield,  Decem- 
ber 5,  1839.  While  yet  a  youth  Mr.  Newell  came  to  Wolfe- 
borough,  and  established  the  Granite  State  News  before  he 
reached  his  majority.  He  enlisted  in  Captain  Colby's  Co.  I.,  8th 
N.  H.  Vols.  October  17,  1861,  and  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service  the  following  December.  In  December,  1863,  the 
8th  N.  H.  Vols.  was  mounted  and  transferred  to  the  cavalry  arm 
of  the  service  as  the  Second  N.  H.  Cavalry. 

Save  for  a  few  weeks  in  the  winter  of  1862,  while  he  was  North 
on  recruiting  service,  Mr.  Newell  remained  with  the  "fighting 
eighth"  regiment  throughout  the  war.  An  extract  from  the  regi- 
mental history  says:  "Mr.  Newell  served  faithfully  throughout 
the  war,  participating  in  over  forty  actions.  He  was  engaged  in 
nearly  every  battle  fought  by  his  regiment  in  the  Department  of 
the  Gulf  and  also  did  admirable  service  as  scout,  amid  great  diffi- 
culties. For  personal  gallantry  he  was  promoted  to  all  offices 
from  sergeant  to  major." 

In  June,  1863,  Lieutenant  Newell,  then  acting-captain,  led  his 
company  in  the  disastrous  charge  upon  Port  Hudson.  The  battle 
began  at  3 130  Sunday  morning,  the  heaviest  firing  continuing 
six  and  a  half  hours.  The  regiment's  gallant  charge  called  forth 
marked  expressions  of  appreciation  from  headquarters.  The  loss 
of  life  was  fearful.  Of  the  two  hundred  and  ninety-eight  that 
entered  the  fight  one  hundred  and  twenty-four  \vere  killed  or 
wounded,  and  at  roll-call  the  regiment  mustered  only  sixty  men. 
At  the  capitulation  of  the  works,  July  9,  the  8th  Regiment  was 
one  of  those  detailed  to  receive  the  surrender. 


424  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

Lieutenant  Newell  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  in  the  first 
charge.  At  the  end  of  three  weeks,  without  medical  attendance 
and  on  a  diet  of  corn  meal  and  molasses,  his  weight  was  reduced 
from  one  hundred  and  forty  to  ninety-six  pounds,  and  he  de- 
termined to  escape  if  possible.  After  much  difficulty  he  succeeded 
in  bribing  a  negro  to  furnish  him  with  a  rope  and  a  Confederate 
uniform.  Through  his  knowledge  of  a  printing  press  he  suc- 
ceeded in  procuring  an  iron  bar  from  an  old  press  in  the  building 
where  he  was  confined,  with  which  he  removed  the  grating  from  a 
window.  On  the  night  of  July  4th  he  climbed  down  on  the  rope, 
passed  the  sentinel  and  walked  composedly  through  the  village, 
meeting  numerous  soldiers,  who,  however,  failed  to  challenge 
him.  Reaching  the  river,  he  carefully  avoided  the  parapets  and 
waded  up  stream  until  he  found  the  Union  pickets.  The  reduc- 
tion of  the  works  five  days  later  was  much  simplified  by  the  infor- 
mation which  he  was  able  to  furnish. 

February  4,  1864,  Captain  Newell  was  sent  in  charge  of  an  ex- 
pedition from  Vidalia  to  disperse  guerilla  parties  up  Black  River. 
The  rebels  were  routed  and  their  horses  and  equipments  cap- 
tured. Three  days  later  his  command  was  overtaken  by  a 
furious  storm  and  was  hemmed  in  by  the  overflow  from  the 
Mississippi  on  the  high  ridge  of  land  where  it  had  encamped. 
Captain  Newell  at  once  proceeded  to  find  a  way  out  of  the 
dilemma  and  would  have  unquestionably  lost  his  life  but  for  his 
skill  in  swimming,  the  result  of  much  practice  in  the  waters  of 
old  Winnipesaukee.  His  horse  gave  out  and,  throwing  off  belt, 
sabre,  boots  and  overcoat,  he  swam  for  hours  through  the  gloomy 
bayous,  until  he  finally  reached  high  ground.  The  whole  party 
were  without  shelter  and  suffered  much.  Their  diet  was  horse 
and  mule  meat  without  salt,  but  after  six  days,  they  managed 
to  reach  Yidalia  with  their  captured  stock. 

We  may  say  in  passing  that  in  December,  1864,  its  term  of 
service  having  expired,  the  8th  Regiment  was  mustered  out.  The 
re-enlisted  veterans  and  recruits  were  again  mustered  into  service 


MAJOR    WILLIAM   H.   TR1CKEY 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUQH. 


425 


at  Natchez,  Miss.,  as  the  Veteran  Battallion,  8th  N.  H.  Vols. 
Major  Newell  served  through  all  these  changes  in  the  regiment, 
infantry,  cavalry  and  veteran  battallion,  and  was  finally  dis- 
charged from  the  service  at  Vicksburg,  Oct.  28,  1865.  He  re- 
mained in  the  South,  however,  aiding  in  the  work  of  reconstruc- 
tion for  a  time.  His  record  in  this  service  is  in  marked  contrast 
to  that  of  the  men  whose  dealings  with  their  conquered  foe  gave 
them  the  unenviable  sobriquet  of  "carpet-bagger." 

Major  Newell  always  bore  his  honors  modestly  and  was  much 
attached  to  the  members  of  his  old  command.  After  his  return 
North  in  1868  until  1874  he  was  engaged  in  journalistic  work  on 
the  Boston  Globe.  After  that  ill  health  prevented  his  taking  so 
active  a  part  in  the  world's  affairs  as  his  merits  and  abilities 
would  warrant,  but  he  was  honored  none  the  less  in  the  high 
place  he  held  in  the  esteem  of  his  fellowmen  while  he  lived  and 
the  tender  reverence  all  who  knew  him  pay  his  memory. 

Major  Newell  married,  April  16,  1869,  Miss  Fannie  M. 
Beacham,  of  Ossipee.  His  death  occurred  March  i,  1880,  after  a 
protracted  illness.  Their  only  child  died  June  3,  1881.  The  local 
G.  A.  R.  Post  No.  61,  is  named  in  Major  Newell's  honor. 

Major  William  H.  Trickey  was  born  in  Exeter,  Maine, 
January  22,  1841.  His  parents  moved  from  Brookfield,  and  when 
he  was  fifteen  years  old  he  came  to  Wolfeborough,  where  he 
made  shoes  and  attended  school  until  his  enlistment  July  29, 
1861.  His  military  history  is  told  fully  in  the  history  of  the  3rd 
N.  H.,Vols.  and  frequent  complementary  mention  is  made  of  his 
service  in  the  Adjutant  General's  report.  A  brief  sketch  is  all 
that  can  be  attempted  here. 

He  enlisted  July  29,  1861,  as  a  private  in  Co.  G.,  3rd  Regiment, 
being  one  of  the  first  to  volunteer  from  the  town.  He  was  made 
corporal  at  Hilton  Head,  sergeant  at  Edisto  Island,  and  orderly 
at  the  regiment's  first  battle  at  Seccessionville,  with  honorable 
mention.  In  April,  1863,  he  was  commissioned  2nd  lieutenant 


426 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


and  during  the  siege  of  Morris  Island  was  in  command  of  his 
company.  He  was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant  in  January,  1864, 
and  in  April  joined  Grant's  forces  in  that  memorable  campaign. 
In  July  of  the  same  year  he  was  advanced  to  the  rank  of  captain 
and  granted  leave  of  absence  by  General  Butler.  This  was  the 
only  time  he  was  relieved  during  his  four  years  service. 

On  September  3rd  he  was  wounded  in  the  trenches  at  Peters- 
burg and  again  on  October  27  at  Derbytown  Road.  January  i, 
1865,  the  regiment  left  its  camp  at  Laurel  Hill  to  join  the  ex- 
pedition against  Fort  Fisher  with  Captain  Trickey  in  command. 
For  the  part  he  played  in  this  assault  he  received  the  thanks  of 
the  Generals,  Ames  and  Abbott.  A  few  days  later  he  was 
wounded  again  while  in  the  skirmish  line. 

February  u,  he  captured  the  enemy's  rifle  pits  with  a  smaller 
number  of  men  than  the  prisoners  he  secured.  On  the  seven- 
teenth of  the  same  month  he  received  his  commission  as  major. 
After  the  capture  of  Wilmington  on  Feb.  25,  he,  with  a  few  men, 
rushed  upon  a  burning  bridge  and  put  the  enemy  to  rout,  thus 
securing  a  safe  passage  for  the  main  force.  This  was  the  last 
active  service  of  the  regiment,  which  was  mustered  out  in  July 
following. 

After  leaving  the  service  Major  Trickey  rturned  to  Wolfe- 
borough,  where  in  August,  1864,  he  had  married  Celestia  C.,  the 
daughter  of  William  Deland,  a  respected  citizen  of  the  town.  In 
1867  he  removed  to  Dover,  where  he  lived  for  twenty  years.  At 
first  he  was  connected  with  the  shoe  business,  then  with  the  U.  S. 
railway  mail  service.  In  1870  and  1871  he  was  in  the  city 
council  and  the  legislature.  In  1887  he  resigned  from  the  gov- 
ernment service  and  entered  upon  a  theological  course  at  Tufts 
College.  He  settled  over  the  Universalist  Society  in  South  New- 
market, X.  H.,  in  1889,  removed  to  Danvers  in  1891,  and  to 
Claremont,  X.  H.,  in  1898,  where  he  is  at  present  located. 

The  "Major,"  as  his  friends  still  call  him,  has  kept  in  close  touch 
with  the  "Bovs  in  Blue.''  He  was  for  several  vears  commander 


[CAPTAIN  ALVAH  s.  LIBBEY] 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


427 


of  the  G.  A.  R.  Post  in  Dover  and  of  the  Department  in  1872. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Military  Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion, 
an  Odd  Fellow  and  a  Mason. 

Captain  Alvah  S.  Libbey  was  born  in  Parsonsfield,  Me.,  Dec. 
15,  1830.  He  was  educated  in  the  town  schools  of  Effingham, 
to  which  town  his  father  moved.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  went 
to  Haverhill,  Mass.,  to  work  on  a  farm  and  a  year  later  secured 
employment  as  clerk  on  a  lumber  wharf  in  Boston,  where  he 
remained  three  years.  From  that  time,  except  while  in  the  army, 
he  was  engaged  in  the  lumber  business. 

Mr.  Libbey  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  loth  N.  H.  Vols.  and 
was  with  Banks  in  the  operations  against  Port  Hudson.  He  was 
promoted  to  a  lieutenancy  after  four  months  service  and  in  1864 
\vas  commissioned  captain  of  Co.  G.  ist  N.  H.  Heavy  Artillery, 
with  one  hundred  and  forty-seven  men  and  four  lieutenants. 
During  this  year  he  commanded  at  Forts  Scott  and  Sumner  and 
Battery  Garreschee.  In  1865  he  was  engaged  in  the  defence  of 
Washington. 

His  business  associations  are  touched  upon  in  another  chapter. 
He  served  his  town  with  marked  ability  in  many  official  capacities 
and  was  always  the  high-minded,  public-spirited  citizen.  His 
death  occurred  December  6,  i8gj 

Captain  Albert  J.  Hersey  now  resides  in  Manchester,  Iowa. 
He  was  in  Texas  when  the  war  broke  out  and  was  forced  to 
enlist  in  the  Confederate  army  as  corporal.  About  his  first  field 
duty  was  the  command  of  an  ambulance  corps,  which,  through 
the  fortunes  of  war,  became  separated  from  the  regiment.  Aided 
by  a  trusty  negro  servant  who  reconnoitred  in  advance,  Captain 
Hersey  at  length  found  the  Union  lines  and  delivered  up  his  men 
as  prisoners.  The  commander  was  somewhat  inclined  to  doubt 
Mr.  Hersey's  loyalty,  but  letters  from  Xew  Hampshire  soon  put 
things  in  their  proper  light  and  the  former  "Reb"  (against  his 
will)  became  one  of  Uncle  Sam's  ablest  defenders  and  left  the 
army  with  a  captain's  commission. 


428 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Captain  Andrew  J.  Wadlea,  "Fighting  Jack/'  as  he  was  called, 
has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life,  since  the  war,  in  the  West. 
He  was  an  active  agent  in  the  mounting  of  the  "Swamp  Angel" 
gun  that  played  such  a  famous  part  in  the  South  Carolina  cam- 
paign. The  necessary  lumber  he  and  his  men  secured  from  the 
"Rebs"  right  under  the  noses  of  their  pickets. 

Captain  Silas  May  was  the  best  posted  military  man  that  went 
from  the  town,  having  had  a  thorough  militia  training  in  Massa- 
chusetts. He  afterwards  served  as  captain  in  the  regular  army. 

Captain  Richard  R.  Davis  was  one  of  the  builders  of  the 
"grapevine  bridge"  at  White  Oak  swamp  in  Virginia.  He  was  a 
good  soldier  and  an  efficient  officer. 

CIVIL  LIST. 

Judges  of  Probate. — 1773,  Henry  Rust,  for  Strafford  County, 
under  the  English  government.  1883,  Sewall  W.  Abbott. 

Judges  of  Common  Pleas. — Henry  B.  Rust  (for  Strafford 
County  before  its  division).  1841-46,  Nathaniel  Rogers  (for  Car- 
roll County).  1847-54.  Thomas  Rust  (for  Carroll  County). 
Register  of  Deeds. — 1843-73,  Loammi  Hardy. 

County  Treasurers. — 1872-73,  Joseph  W.  Goodwin.  1883-87, 
Henry  W.  Furbur.  Solicitor. — 1841-45,  Zachariah  Batchelder. 
Sheriffs. — 1861-64,  Charles  H.  Parker.  1879-80,  Levi  T.  Haley. 
1899-1900,  Frank  P.  Hobbs.  County  Commissioners. — Augus- 
tine D.  Avery,  Charles  Nowell,  Thomas  L.  Whitten,  Alphonzo 
H.  Rust,  Hezekiah  Willand,  Alfred  Brown,  Walter  A.  Sherburne, 
Stephen  W.  Clow. 

Delegates  to  Constitutional  Conventions  for  Wolfeborough  and 
Classed  Towns. — 1781,  Nathaniel  Shannon,  Moultonborough. 
1788,  Nathaniel  Shannon,  Moultonborough.  1791,  Col.  Nathan 
Hoitt,  Moultonborough.  Delegates  to  Constitutional  Conven- 
tions for  Wolfeborough. — 1850,  Thomas  L.  Whitton,  Henry  B. 
Rust.  1876,  Thomas  L.  Whitton,  Jethro  R.  Furbur.  1889,  Alvah 
S.  Libbey,  George  F.  Mathes.  Councillors. — 1840-41,  Henry  B. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


429 


Rust.  1846,  John  C.  Young.  1858-59,  Thomas  L.  Whitton.  1864, 
John  M.  Brackett.  1871,  Alphonzo  H.  Rust.  1897-98,  Charles 
F.  Piper.  Senators.— 1830,  Henry  B.  Rust.  1885,  Levi  T.  Haley. 
Representatives. — 1775,  Moses  Ham.  (To  Colonial  Conven- 
tion.) 1779,  Matthew  S.  Parker.  (For  New  Durham,  the  Gore, 
and  Wolfeborough.)  1785,  Reuben  Libbey.  (For  Moulton- 
borough,  Wolfeborough,  and  Ossipee  Gore.)  1793,  Reuben  Lib- 
bey.  (For  Moultonborough,  Ossipee,  Tuftonborough,  and 
Wolfeborough.)  1795,  Henry  Rust,  Jr.  (For  Brookfield  and 
Wolfeborough.)  1798-1800,  Henry  Rust,  Jr.  1801-05,  Isaiah 
Home.  1806,  Nathaniel  Brown.  1807,  Isaiah  Home.  1808-09, 
Jacob  Haines.  1810-12,  Jonathan  Blake.  1813,  Jacob  Haines. 
1814-15,  Jonathan  Blake.  1817-18,  Samuel  Meder.  1819, 
Jonathan  Blake.  1820,  Samuel  Fox.  1821,  Thomas  Nute.  1822- 
23,  Samuel  Fox.  1824-25,  John  C.  Young.  1826,  Samuel  Fox. 
1827,  John  C.  Young.  1828-29,  Henry  B.  Rust.  1830-33, 
Thomas  J.  Tebbetts.  1834-35,  Nathaniel  Rogers.  1836-37, 
Samuel  Nudd,  Jr.  1838,  Henry  B.  Rust.  1839,  Henry  B.  Rust, 
Thomas  L.  Whitton.  1840,  Thomas  L.  Whitton,  Benjamin  F. 
Thompson.  1841,  Benjamin  F.  Thompson,  James  Thurston. 
1842,  James  Thurston,  John  Cate.  1843-44,  George  W.  G.  Whit- 
ton, Augustine  D.  Avery.  1745,  John  Cate,  Thomas  Cotton. 
1846,  Henry  B.  Rust,  Thomas  Cotton.  1847,  Henry  B.  Rust, 
Lewis  L.  Whitehouse.  1848,  Lewis  L.  Whitehouse,  John  L. 
Meder.  1849,  Jonn  L.  Meder,  John  P.  Cotton.  1850,  John  P. 
Cotton,  Levi  T.  Hersey.  1851,  Levi  T.  Hersey,  James  Bick- 
ford.  1852,  James  Bickford,  Henry  B.  Rust.  1853,  Thomas  L. 
W'hitton,  Augustine  L.  Avery.  1854,  E.  D.  Barker,  Matthias 
Haines.  1855,  John  M.  Brackett,  Thomas  L.  Whitton.  1856, 
George  W.  Furbur,  Thomas  Nute.  1857,  John  M.  Brackett, 
Elliot  Cotton.  1858,  Charles  H.  Parker,  Elliot  Cotton.  1859, 
Charles  H.  Parker,  Aaron  Roberts.  1860-61,  Moses  Thompson, 
J.  C.  Young.  1862,  Alphonzo  H.  Rust,  Thomas  Nute.  1863, 
Alphonzo  H.  Rust,  John  L.  Goldsmith.  1864,  David  C.  Rogers, 


430 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


John  L.  Goldsmith.  1865,  Joseph  R.  Haines,  David  C.  Rogers. 
1866,  Joseph  R.  Haines,  William  B.  Hodge.  1867-68,  Joseph 
W.  Goodwin,  John  Tebbetts,  Jr.  1869-70,  Elisha  Goodwin,  Blake 
Folsom.  1871,  Thomas  Nute,  Daniel  Martin.  1872,  Daniel 
Martin,  Alvah  S.  Libbey.  1873,  Alvah  S.  Libbey,  William  A. 
Smith.  1874,  Alonzo  Thompson,  Andrew  J.  Drew.  1875,  Alonzo 
Thompson,  Israel  B.  Manning.  1876,  Andrew  J.Drew,  IraBanfield. 
1877,  Ira  Banfield,  Joseph  R.  Haines.  1878,  Joseph  R.  Haines, 
James  J.  Rendall.  1878  (Fall  election),  William  A.  Smith. 
1880,  John  W.  Peavey,  Charles  W.  Young.  1882,  Samuel  Wyatt, 
A.  J.  Varney.  1884,  George  F.  Horn,  James  H.  Martin.  1886, 
Charles  F.  Piper,  Charles  A.  Whitton.  1888,  Israel  B.  Manning, 
Gideon  Gilman.  1890,  Frank  W.  Hicks,  Charles  F.  Blake, 
George  W.  Bassett.  1892,  George  F.  Mathes,  Stephen  W.  Clow, 
Jonas  W.  Piper.  1894,  Charles  H.  Tibbetts,  Charles  S.  Paris, 
George  A.  Carpenter.  1896,  George  A.  Carpenter,  Joseph  Le- 
wando,  James  Stevenson.  1898,  Joseph  Lewando,  Fred  E.  Her- 
sey,  John  A.  Chamberlain.  1900,  John  H.  Home,  Fred  R.  Blake. 
Clerks. — 1770,  Jotham  Rindge.  1771-72,  John  Flagg.  1773, 
John  Sinclair.  1774-80,  Matthew  S.  Parker.  1781-84,  Richard 
Rust.  1785-86,  James  Lucas,  Jr.  1787-88,  Matthew  S.  Parker, 
died  in  office.  1789,  James  Lucas,  Jr.  1790-91,  Henry  Rust,  Jr. 
1792,  John  Bassett.  1793-95,  Henry  Rust,  Jr.  1796-1800,  Isaiah 
Home.  1801-03,  Mark  Wiggin.  1804,  Samuel  Meder.  1805-07, 
Samuel  Dimon.  1808,  Samuel  Meder.  1809,  Mark  Wiggin. 
1810-11,  Samuel  Piper.  1812,  Mark  Wiggin.  1813-14,  Samuel 
Piper.  1815-16,  Thomas  Stevenson.  1817-18,  Samuel  Burley. 
1819-21,  Samuel  Avery.  1822-24,  Thomas  Stevenson.  1825-26, 
Thomas  Rust.  1827-30,  Joseph  Banfield.  1831,  Samuel  Avery. 
1832-35,  Samuel  Nudd,  Jr.  1836,  Alvah  Chamberlain.  1837, 
Nathaniel  Willey.  1838-40.  Loammi  Hardy.  1841,  A.  D.  Avery. 
1842,  Loammi  Hardy.  1843,  A.  D.  Avery.  1844,  John  Haines. 
1845-46,  Samuel  S.  Parker.  1847-48,  John  Haines.  1849,  Joseph 
L.  Avery.  1850-51,  Matthias  M.  Haines.  1852-53,  Eleazer  D. 


HISTORY   OF   WOLFEBOROUGH. 


431 


Barker.  1854-55,  Andrew  J.  Tebbetts.  1856,  John  Xowell. 
l857-58,  Oilman  Cooper.  1859-61,  Jones  W.  Piper  1867-68, 
John  W.  Avery.  1869-71,  Jonas  W.  Piper.  1872,  Daniel  F. 
Whitton.  1873,  Jonas  W.  Piper.  1874-75,  Charles  H.  Hodgdon. 
1876-78,  Oliver  Dowlin.  1879,  Charles  F.  Piper.  1880-81. 
George  F.  Horn.  1882-83,  Dudley  C.  Frost.  1884-85,  Forest  W. 
Peavey.  1886-87,  William  J.  Mattison,  Sewall  W.  Abbott.  1888, 
Curtis  J.  Frost.  1889,  Sylvester  A.  Edgerly.  1891-94,  Eugene 
L.  Peaslee.  1895-96,  William  J.  Britton.  1897,  Joseph  Clifton 
Avery.  1898-1901,  William  J.  Britton. 

Selectmen. — 1770-71,  Thomas  Lucas,  John  Sinclair,  Jacob 
Sceggell.  1772,  John  Flagg,  Benjamin  Folsom,  Ithiel  Clifford. 
1773,  Benjamin  Folsom,  Thomas  Taylor,  James  Connor.  1/74. 
Henry  Rust,  James  Connor,  Thomas  Lucas.  I775~77,  Henry 
Rust,  Robert  Calder,  Moses  Ham.  1778-79,  Henry  Rust, 
Ebenezer  Meder,  Matthew  S.  Parker.  1780,  Henry  Rust, 
Jonathan  Lary,  Matthew  S.  Parker.  1781,  Henry  Rust,  James 
Connor,  Ebenezer  Meder.  1782,  Reuben  Libbey,  William 
Rogers,  \Villiam  Lucas.  1783,  Richard  Rust,  William  Rogers, 
Isaiah  Home.  1784,  John  Martin,  Richard  Rust,  Isaiah  Home, 
William  Lucas,  Andrew  Lucas.  1785,  Reuben  Libbey,  Ebenezer 
Meder,  James  Lucas,  Jr.  1786-88,  Matthew  S.  Parker,  died  in 
office,  James  Lucas,  Jr.,  Ebenezer  Meder.  1789,  James  Lucas, 
Jr.,  Isaiah  Home,  Richard  Rust.  1790,  Richard  Rust,  Jacob 
Haines,  William  Cotton.  1791,  Richard  Rust,  James  Lucas, 
Jr.,  Isaiah  Home.  1792,  Moses  Varney,  Samuel  Tibbetts, 
Stephen  H.  Home.  1793-94,  Richard  Rust.  James  Lucas,  Jr., 
Jacob  Haines.  1795,  Richard  Rust,  Xathaniel  Brown,  Samuel 
Tibbetts,  Jr.  1796,  Richard  Rust,  James  Lucas.  Jr.,  lacob  Haines. 
1797,  Mark  Wiggin,  Xathaniel  Brown,  Ebenezer  Meder.  1798, 
Mark  Wiggin,  Xathaniel  Brown,  Samuel  Estes.  1799-1803,  Mark 
Wiggin,  Jonathan  Blake,  Dudley  Hardy.  1804,  Jonn  Young. 
Samuel  Fox.  Henry  R.  Parker.  1805,  Mark  Wiggin,  Jonathan 
Blake,  Dudley  Hardy.  1806,  Mark  Wiggin,  Jonathan  Blake, 


432 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


John  L.  Piper.  1807,  John  L.  Piper,  Samuel  Dimon,  Jonathan 
Blake.  1808,  John  L.  Piper,  Jonathan  Blake,  Samuel  Nowell. 
1809-11,  Jonathan  Blake,  Dudley  Hardy,  Thomas  Stevenson. 
1812,  Thomas  Stevenson,  Isaiah  G.  Orne,  Jonathan  Bickford, 
Jr.  1813,  Thomas  Stevenson,  Jonathan  Blake,  Jonathan  Bick- 
ford, Jr.  1814-15,  Thomas  Stevenson,  Zachariah  Young, 
Jonathan  Blake.  1816,  Thomas  Stevenson,  Jonathan  Blake, 
James  Sceggell.  1817,  Samuel  Fox,  William  Cotton,  Jr.,  Henry 
R.  Parker.  1818,  Thomas  Stevenson,  Henry  R.  Parker,  William 
Cotton,  Jr.  1819,  Thomas  Stevenson,  Dudley  Hardy,  Henry  R. 
Parker.  1820,  Henry  R.  Parker,  William  Cotton,  Jr.,  Wilmot 
Bickford.  1821,  Thomas  Stevenson,  William  Cotton,  Jr.,  James 
Haines.  1822,  Thomas  Stevenson,  Samuel  Nowell,  William  Cot- 
ton. 1823,  Jonathan  Blake,  William  Cotton,  Henry  R.  Parker. 
1824,  Thomas  Stevenson,  William  Cotton  (died  in  office),  Henry 
R.  Parker.  1825,  John  C.  Young,  Samuel  Avery,  Thomas 
Stevenson.  1826,  Jonathan  Blake,  John  C.  Young,  Thomas  Rust. 
1827,  John  C.  Young,  Thomas  Rust,  John  Cate.  1828-29,  John 
Cate,  Thomas  J.  Tebbetts,  William  Thompson.  1830,  Samuel 
Avery,  James  Sceggell,  James  Rogers.  1831,  John  Cate,  Mat- 
thias Haines,  James  Rogers.  1832,  John  Cate,  George  E.  Nudd, 
Charles  B.  Orne.  1833,  Samuel  Fox,  John  C.  Young,  Richard 
Xudd.  1834,  Richard  Nudd,  Benjamin  F.  Thompson,  Thomas 
Rust.  1835,  Samuel  Avery,  Matthias  Haines,  Benjamin  F. 
Thompson.  1836,  Benjamin  F.  Thompson,  Samuel  Nudd,  James 
Thurston.  1837,  Benjamin  F.  Thompson,  James  Thurston,  Levi 
Towle.  1838,  Levi  Towle,  Thomas  L.  Whitton,  Samuel  Nudd. 

1839,  Thomas  L.  Whitton,  Nathaniel  Banfield,  James  Thurston. 

1840,  James  Thurston,  Samuel  Fox,  Robert  Wiggin.     1841,  John 
Cate,  Samuel  Nudd,  Jr.,  Thomas  L.  Whitton.     1842,  John  Cate, 
James    Thurston,  Thomas    L.  Whitton.     1843-44,    Thomas  L. 
Whitton,  Benjamin  F.  Thompson,  James  Bickford.     1845,  James 
Bickford,  John  P.  Cotton,  John  Fox.    1846,  Thomas  L.  Whitton, 
Levi  T.  Hersey,  John  Fox.     1847-48,  Levi  T.  Hersey,  John  P. 


HISTORY   OF   WOLFEBOROUGH. 


433 


Cotton,  Samuel  S.  Parker,  died  in  office.    1849,  Thomas  L.  Whit- 
ton,  Levi  T.  Hersey,  James  Sceggell.    1850,  Thomas  L.  VVhitton, 
Henry  B.  Rust,  James  Sceggell.     1851,  James  Sceggell,  John  L. 
Furbur,   Matthias   M.   Haines.      1852,  James   Sceggell,   Levi   T. 
Hersey,  John  P.  Cotton.      1853,  John   P.  Cotton,   Benjamin   F. 
Thompson,  George  W.  Furber.     1855,  Elliot  Cotton,  Benjamin 
F.  Parker,  Richard  R.  Davis.     1856,  Woodbury  P.  Home,  David 
Blake,  James  Bickford.     1857,  Benjamin  F.  Parker,  Richard  R. 
Davis,  Charles  O.  Kendall.     1858,  Charles  O.  Kendall,  George 
Rust,  George  W.  Hersey.     1859,  George  Rust,  George  W.  Her- 
sey,  Daniel   Martin.      1860-61,   Daniel   Martin,   Gilman   Cooper, 
John  L.  Furber.     1862-63,  David  C.  Rogers,  Hezekiah  Willand, 
Thomas  J.   Blaisdell.      1864,   Woodbury   P.   Home,  George  W. 
Furbur,  Joseph  W.   Goodwin.      1865-66,  Woodbury   P.   Home, 
Moses  Thompson,  Charles  H.  Nudd.     1867-68,  David  C.  Rogers, 
John  J.  Chamberlain,  Charles  G.  Cate.     1869,  Charles  G.  Cate, 
Daniel  Martin,  Alonzo  I.  Orne.     1870,  John  H.  Rust,  Nathaniel 
Wiggin,  Daniel  Martin.      1871,  John  Tibbetts,  Nathaniel  Wig- 
gin,  John  H.  Rust.  1872,  John  H.  Rust,  Samuel  J.  Stevenson,  Wil- 
liam A.  Smith.     1873,  Daniel  Martin,  John  G.  Cate,  Henry  G. 
Home.     1874-75,  Alfred  Brown,  Hezekiah  Willand,  Charles  F. 
Blake.      1876-77,   Alfred    Brown,    Hezekiah    Willand,    Nathaniel 
Hicks.     1878,  Hezekiah  Willand,  Henry  W.  Furber,  Augustine 
A.  Fullerton.     1879,  Jonas  \V.  Piper,  James  H.  Martin,  Augus- 
tine A.  Fullerton.     1880-81,  Jonas  W.  Piper,  James  H.  Martin, 
Charles  F.  Chase.     1882,  Jonas  W.  Piper,  James  H.  Martin,  John 
L.   Goldsmith.      1883,    Jonas   W.    Piper,    Joseph    H.    Bickford, 
Thomas  J.  Bickford.     1884,  Jonas  W.  Piper,  William  B.  Hodge, 
John   L.    Goldsmith.      1885,    Jonas  W.  Piper,  Walter  A.   Sher- 
burne,  Charles  G.  Cate.     1886-87,  Jonas  W.  Piper,  Nathaniel  T. 
Brewster,  Stephen  W.  C'low.     1888,  Stephen  W.  Clow,  Nathaniel 
T.  Brewster,  Henry  W.  Furber.  1889,  Stephen  W.Clow,  Nathaniel 
T.  Brewster.  Charles  S.  Paris.     1890,  Stephen  W.  Clow,  Charles 
S.   Paris,  Eli  C.  Swett.     1891,  Stephen  W.  Clow,  Eli  C.  Swett, 


434 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


James  H.  Martin.  1892,  Stephen  W.  Clow,  Charles  E.  Stackpole, 
James  E.  Gridley.  1893-4,  Stephen  W.  Clow,  James  E.  Gridley, 
Fred  E.  Hersey.  1895-96,  Fred  E.  Hersey,  John  H.  Home,  John 
A.  Chamberlain.  1897,  Fred  E.  Hersey,  John  H.  Home,  Samuel 
N.  Furber,  Jr.  1898,  John  H.  Home,  Samuel  N.  Furber,  Jr., 
Fred  R.  Blake.  1899  Fred  R.  Blake,  Stephen  W.  Clow,  Fred  S. 
Libbey.  1900,  Stephen  W.  Clow,  Fred  S.  Libbey,  Horace  Rust. 
1901,  Stephen  W.  Clow,  Horace  Rust,  Wilbur  H.  Oilman. 


OHN    BRE.VSTER 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

THE  BREWSTER  FAMILY — JOHN  BREWSTER  AND  HIS  LIBERAL  BE- 
QUESTS TO  HIS  NATIVE  TOWN — TEXT  OF  A  PORTION  OF  HIS 
WILL. 

ANY  sketch  of  the  Brewster  family  in  Wolfeborough  must  cen- 
ter around  the  name  of  John,  its  most  notable  representative 
and  the  town's  chief  benefactor.  The  first  Brewster  to  take  up 
his  abode  in  the  town  was  Daniel,  who  came  here  with  his  two 
sons,  Daniel  and  George,  at  least  a  generation  after  the  first  set- 
tlers had  set  up  their  humble  homes.  Daniel  was  descended 
from  that  famed  spiritual  leader,  Elder  William  Brewster,  who 
landed  at  Plymouth  with  the  Mayflower  company  in  1620.  A 
grandson  of  ,the  Elder  crossed  the  bay  to  Portsmouth,  where  the 
first  mentioned  Daniel  was  born  in  1735. 

Daniel's' two  sons  were  farmers.     George  Flagg  Brewster,  a 

son  of  the  second  Daniel,  lived  on  the  farm  until  his  death.    His 

\Vr ' ' 
son,  Eli  V.,  has  been  a  prominent  citizen  of  Dover,  having  served 

as  mayor.    Another  son,  George  F.,  after  living  on  the  farm  for 
several  years,  also  removed  to  Dover. 

George  Brewster  had  eight  children  who  lived  until  maturity, 
one  of  whom,  Daniel,  succeeded  him  on  the  home  farm.  This 
Daniel  had  three  sons,  Nathaniel  T.,  John  L.,  and  Jonathan 
M.  Nathaniel  T.  now  occupies  the  old  homestead  and  is  a  farmer 
on  a  large  scale,  owning  extensive  tracts  of  land  and  many  head 
of  cattle.  John  L.  has  been  a  teacher,  a  banker,  and  superin- 
tendent of  schools  of  Lawrence,  Mass.  Until  his  removal  to 
Andover  a  few  years  since  he  was  active  in  all  that  pertained  to 
the  welfare  of  the  former  town.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the  estate  of 
John  Brewster  and  a  trustee  and  treasurer  of  Brewster  Free 
Academy.  Jonathan  M.  was  a  leading  clergyman  of  the  Free 

435 


436 


HISTORY.  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Baptist  denomination,  and  died  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  some  years 
since. 

We  now  come  to  John  Brewster,  another  son  of  George,  who, 
in  his  last  will,  after  making  ample  provisions  for  his  son  and  other 
relatives  and  friends,  devised  the  annual  income  of  the  residue 
of  his  estate,  which  exceeded  a  million  dollars,  chiefly  for  the 
benefit  of  his  native  town  of  Wolfeborough  and  the  neighboring 
town  of  Tuftonborough.  He  bequeathed  the  Wolfeborough  and 
Tuftonborough  Academy  ten  thousand  dollars  annually  with 
these  conditions :  That  its  name  should  be  changed  to  that  of 
the  Brewster  Free  School  or  Academy,  and  that  there  should  be 
no  restrictions  as  to  age,  sex,  or  color,  but  that  all  should  be  re- 
quired to  possess  a  "good  moral  character."  He  also  made  pro- 
vision for  the  erection  of  a  town  hall  at  a  cost  of  thirty-five 
thousand  dollars  and  for  the  establishment  of  a  free  library.  The 
balance  was  to  be  applied  ''one-half  for  the  use  of  the  academy, 
the  other  to  be  used  equally  for  the  support  of  the  worthy  poor 
and  the  common  schools  in  Wolfeborough  and  Tuftonborough/' 
Detailed  accounts  of  the  development  of  these  various  bequests 
will  be  found  in  other  chapters  of  this  work.  We  give  here 
liberal  extracts  from  a  sketch  of  Mr.  Brewster,  prepared  by  a 
nephew  and  read  at  the  mass  meeting  at  the  Old  Home  exercises 
held  Aug.  14,  1900. 

"The  boyhood  of  John  Brewster  was  similar  to  that  of  most  sons 
of  farmers  of  that  period.  He  had  two  or  three  terms  in  the 
Wolfeborough  and  Tuftonborough  Academy,  which  had  been 
chartered  in  1820.  His  life  in  Wolfeborough  was  brief.  In  the 
autumn  of  1828,  a  few  weeks  before  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  he 
was  hired  to  teach  school  in  the  Xute  district  at  West  Milton, 
on  the  very  spot  where  Lewis  WT.  Nute,  benefactor  of  Milton,  had 
his  district  school  life.  It  so  happened  that  young  Nute  was 
among  John  Brewster's  pupils.  This  was  Mr.  Brewster's  only 
service  in  school  teaching.  He,  however,  returned  to  Wolfe- 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

borough  no  more  except  as  a  visitor,  a  thing  which  he  never 
failed  to  do  at  least  once  a  year  during  his  entire  life. 

"Closing  his  school  early  in  1829,  he  entered  the  service  of  his 
maternal  uncle,  Jonathan  Torr,  of  Rochester,  who  kept  a  store 
for  general  trade  such  as  was  common  in  the  large  villages  of 
the  time.  A  long  and  severe  illness  of  his  uncle  threw  the  whole 
responsibility  of  the  store  upon  Mr.  Brewster,  which  the  pro- 
prietor found  on  his  recovery  had  been  discharged  to  his  entire 
satisfaction.  At  eighteen,  Mr.  Brewster  entered  the  hardware 
store  of  William  Hale  on  Dover  Landing.  To  within  the  memory 
of  some  present  here,  Mr.  Hale's  was  the  leading  store  of  its 
kind  in  eastern  New  Hampshire  south  of  the  White  Mountains. 
Dover  was  then  developing  what  has  since  been  her  leading  in- 
dustry, the  manufacture  of  textiles.  Mr.  Hale  sold  gunpowder 
and  so  was  not  allowed  to  keep  open  store  after  sunset.  During 
his  five  years  of  service  at  Dover,  Mr.  Brewster  spent  many  even- 
ings in  busy  times  in  the  dry-goods  stores  helping  the  clerks  in 
their  work,  and  he  thus  acquired  a  knowledge  of  that  trade. 

"At  twenty-three,  he  told  his  employer  that  he  had  determined 
to  try  his  fortune  in  the  dry-goods  trade  in  Boston.  He  had  saved 
twenty-five  hundred  dollars.  Mr.  Hale  said.  "You  need  ten 
thousand  dollars  more  ;  I  will  lend  you  half  and  your  father  and 
your  two  maternal  uncles  must  endorse  for  the  other  half."  This 
was  done.  In  Hanover  street,  on  the  site  of  the  present 
"American  House,"  the  firm  of  Williams  &  Brewster  opened  the 
second  store  on  what  had  been  entirely  a  residence  street.  The 
firm  lasted  but  a  single  year,  but  it  had  been  so  successful  that 
the  ten  thousand  dollars  was  paid  at  its  dissolution.  A  new  firm, 
John  Brewster  &  Co.,  in  which  Julius  Cushman  and  John  Kan- 
croft  were  the  partners,  succeeded  the  previous  one  and  did  a 
prosperous  business  through  the  crisis  of  1837.  when  so  many 
houses  failed,  until  1845,  when  they  removed  to  Water  street,  just 
below  Post-office  square,  and  became  a  wholesale  house.  This 


438 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


arrangement  continued  until  1850;  then  Mr.  Brewster  sold  his 
interest  to  Alfred  H.  Otis  of  Dover,  and  retired. 

"Mr.  Brewster  married  Rebecca  P.  Noyes  of  Boston  in  1839. 
Their  home  was  first  in  Brighton  street,  next  in  Louisburg  square, 
then  in  Eaton  street,  all  in  the  so-called  "West  End"  of  Boston, 
up  to  1845.  In  that  year  Mr.  Brewster  bought  the  Judge  Sewall 
place,  located  in  "Tory  Row"  of  the  Revolution,  a  house  which 
had  been  confiscated  by  the  colonial  government,  and  inci- 
dentally, made  a  prison  for  Baron  Riedesel  in  1777.  It  is  now 
No.  145  Brattle  St.,  Cambridge.  With  the  exception  of  two  years 
at  South  Reading,  now  Wakefield,  Mass.,  this  remained  Mr. 
Brewster's  home  for  the  remaining  forty  years  of  his  life.  His 
only  surviving  child,  Mr.  William  Brewster,  named  for  Mr.  Hale, 
now  lives  on  the  same  spot. 

"In  the  spring  of  1851,  during  the  two  years  of  farm  life  at 
Wakefield,  the  banking  firm  of  Brewster,  Sweet  &  Co.  was 
formed,  at  No.  76  State  St.,  Mr.  Charles  A.  Sweet  who  had  been 
trained  in  the  banking-house  of  Gilbert  &  Sons,  being  the  sole 
partner.  In  the  autumn  of  that  year  the  concern  was  a  modest 
one,  and  the  two  partners,  with  the  aid  of  a  messenger-boy,  did 
the  entire  work.  A  year  or  two  later  they  removed  to  No.  40 
State  St.,  where  they  remained  for  more  than  twenty  years — until 
the  firm  was  broken  up  in  1874.  In  those  years,  that  which  had 
begun  very  small  had  become  one  of  the  leading  houses  of  its 
kind  in  New  England.  The  house  antedated  the  Civil  War  by 
ten  years.  At  the  time  of  its  founding  there  were  few  if  any  muni- 
cipal or  government  bonds.  By  the  spring  of  1861,  the  firm  of 
Brewster,  Sweet  &  Co.  had  so  gained  the  public  confidence,  that 
on  the  recommendation  of  Senator  Sumner,  Mr.  Brewster  met 
Secretary  Chase  and  Mr.  Jay  Cooke  in  Philadelphia,  where  a 
discussion  of  the  financial  situation  resulted  in  the  firm  of 
Brewster,  Sweet  &  Co.  being  made  fiscal  agent  for  the  govern- 
ment in  all  New  England  except  Connecticut.  Mr.  Brewster 
once  said,  'That  placed  us  on  our  feet.'  The  commission  on 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

the  sale  of  bonds  was  one-fourth  of  one  per  cent.,  and  the  one 
quarter  was  divided  equally  with  the  agencies  which  had  been 
established  at  good  centers  over  the  whole  territory.  The  sales 
were  enormous,  for  that  time  almost  fabulous ;  sometimes  more 
than  a  million  dollars  a  week,  and  probably  an  average  of  half 
a  million  a  week  for  the  four  years  of  the  war.  After  the  war 
came  the  refunding  of  the  government  loan,  the  sale  of  railroad, 
state,  and  municipal  bonds.  In  this  the  firm  did  a  large  business 
until  1874,  the  year  of  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Sweet.  A  new  firm 
was  then  founded,  that  of  Brewster,  Bassett  &  Co.,  with  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Bassett,  Mr.  Henry  E.  Cobb,  and  Mr.  Arthur  F.  Estabrook 
as  the  partners.  Mr.  Estabrook  had  entered  the  office  of 
Brewster,  Sweet  &  Co.  in  1857,  a  boy  at  the  very  bottom,  and  is 
a  striking  example  of  what  ability,  energy,  and  honesty  can  do 
in  our  country.  He  has  never  flagged  in  his  admiration  for  Mr. 
Brewster,  a  fact  which  is  witnessed  by  the  supplementary  work 
on  the  grounds  where  in  obedience  to  a  general  desire  one  of  the 
buildings  bears  his  name.  The  new  firm  took  a  new  location  at 
35  Congress  St.,  where  its  successors,  Brewster,  Cobb  &  Esta- 
brook and  Estabrook  &  Co.,  have  continued  to  the  present  time. 

"In  February,  1883,  few  weeks  after  he  was  seventy  years  old, 
Mr.  Brewster  retired  from  active  business,  though  he  retained  a 
silent  interest  in  the  house  till  his  death,  January  13,  1886. 

"Such  is  the  brief  outline  of  the  life  of  a  strong,  quiet  man,  who 
has  made  for  himself  an  enduring  name  throughout  this  region 
where  we  are  today.  In  business  he  was  a  man  of  few  words, 
t.iit  those  words  were  as  good  as  his  bond.  Outside  of  his  family, 
he  had  a  few  choice  friends  who  knew  his  inner  life.  In  his  family 
he  was  one  of  the  kindest  and  most  considerate  of  men ;  it  was  a 
delight  to  visit  his  home.  The  years  since  Mr.  Brewster  died  have 
been  few,  and  yet  the  girls  and  boys  who  have  been  benefited  here 
already  number  among  the  hundreds ;  the  uplift  has  already  been 
felt.  The  schools  of  this  town  and  the  town  of  Tuftonborough 
are  experiencing  the  impulse  for  good  which  will  be  greater  as 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

time  goes  on.  Life  has  been  and  will  be  made  smoother  for  the 
worthy  poor.  The  trustees  believe  that  they  are  doing  the  work 
as  he  would  have  done  it.  They  are  grateful  to  all  who  have 
aided,  and  to  none  more  than  the  teachers,  and  especially  the 
principal,  of  the  Brewster  Free  Academy,  who  has  been  here  all 
the  years  of  its  life.  The  verdict  of  mankind  will  be  that  John 
Brewster  has  lived  and  wrought  worthily. 

Nathaniel  Brewster  married  Mary  E.  Chesley.  His  children 
are :  Sarah,  born  Sept.  12,  1857 ;  Belle,  born  July  29,  1859,  died 
May  10,  1892;  Emma  L.,  born  Sept.  21,  1863;  George  L.,  born 
July  4,  1865;  Harriet  F.,  born  May  8,  1868;  Elizabeth  A.,  born 
Aug.  24,  1870;  Inez  A.,  born  Aug.  13,  1874.  George  L.  is  asso- 
ciated with  his  father  in  the  management  of  the  farm. 

John  L.  Brewster  married  Ada  A.,  a  daughter  of  Hon.  William 
Tenney  of  Hanover,  N.  H.  His  children  are :  Edward  Tenney, 
born  July  24,  1864,  died  young;  Edward  Tenney,  born  Oct.  n, 
1866,  married  Alice  S.  Rollins,  is  an  instructor  at  Phillips  An- 
dover  Academy;  William  T  ..  born  Aug.  15,  1869,  is  an  instructor 
at  Columbia  University ;  Edward  T.  and  William  T.  graduated 
at  Harvard  in  1890  and  1892  respectively. 

William  Brewster,  son  of  John,  is  famous  in  the  scientific  world 
for  his  researches  in  the  field  of  ornithology.  His  private  col- 
lection at  his  Cambridge  home  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  world. 
He  is  an  instructor  at  the  Agassiz  Museum  at  Harvard, 
holds  honorary  degrees  from  that  institution  and  has  been  of- 
ficially connected  with  numerous  scientific  bodies. 

Following  are  the  public  bequests  contained  in  John 
Brewster's  will : 

Item  Six : — My  trustee  shall  out  of  the  net  income  remaining 
after  making  the  payments  hereinbefore  provided  pay  annually, 
in  equal  quarterly  payments,  the  sum  of  $10.000  to  the  Wolfe- 
borough  and  Tuftonborough  Academy,  in  my  native  town  of 
Wolfeborough,  in  the  stale  of  Xew  Hampshire,  for  the  charitable 
and  educational  uses  and  purposes  of  said  academy;  but  the  said 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


441 


annual  payments  are  to  and  shall  be  made  only  upon  the  follow- 
ing conditions:  (i )  That  the  name  of  said  academy  shall  be 
changed  to  and  thereafter  continue  to  be  that  of  the  Brevvster 
Free  School  or  Academy.  (2)  That  no  restriction  shall  be 
placed  upon  any  person  desiring  to  attend  and  receive  instruction 
from  said  school  or  academy  on  account  of  his  or  her  age,  sex  or 
color,  provided  only  he  or  she  is  of  good  moral  character.  (3) 
That  not  more  than  25  per  cent,  of  said  annuity  shall  be  spent 
in  erecting  buildings  or  in  alterations,  improvements  or  repairs 
upon  the  same ;  the  remaining  income  from  the  provision  of  my 
will  to  be  expended  wholly  for  salaries  of  teachers  for  instruction 
and  educational  purposes  of  said  school  or  academy :  so  as  near 
as  possible  to  make  instruction  and  education  therein  free. 

Item  Sefcn  : — My  trustees  shall  use  and  appropriate  all  the 
rest  and  residue  of  the  net  income  of  my  estate  remaining  in  their 
hands  after  making  the  payments  hereinbefore  provided,  to  the  fol- 
lowing uses  and  purposes :  One-half  part  thereof  shall  be  allowed 
to  accumulate  in  the  hands  of  my  said  trustees,  who  shall  invest 
the  same  in  the  manner  hereinbefore  provided  for  the  investment 
of  my  estate,  until  such  part,  with  accumulations  thereon,  shall 
be  sufficient  for  the  purpose  herein  stated.  They  shall  then,  with 
said  sum.  erect  in  my  native  town  of  Wolfeborough,  X.  H.,  a 
plain  brick  building,  as  nearly  as  possible,  on  the  plan  of  and  like 
the  public  building  or  Town  Hall,  erected  by  W.  S.  Sargent  in 
and  for  the  town  of  Merrimack  in  Massachusetts  ;  said  building 
shall  be  held  by  my  trustees  forever  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  town  of  \Yolfeborough,  as  and  for  a  town  and 
public  library.  The  stores  in  said  building  on  the  lower  floor 
shall  be  rented  by  my  trustees  and  all  the  rent  and  income  over 
and  above  the  expenses  and  charges  arising  therefrom,  shall  be 
by  them  used  and  appropriated  for  the  necessary  care  and  repairs 
of  said  building,  and  for  the  care,  support  and  purchase  of  books 
for  the  said  puHic  library  to  be  in  said  building.  Said  trustee- 
shall  keep  said  building  fully  insured  and  in  case  of  the  lo.-s  < 


442 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


destruction  of  said  building  they  shall,  from  the  proceeds  of  such 
insurance  re-erect  said  building  in  as  nearly  possible  the  same 
manner  and  style  and  on  the  same  plan  as  it  was  before  erected, 
and  in  case  said  insurance  should  be  insufficient  to  do  this  then 
my  trustees  shall  use  any  income  remaining  after  making  the  pay- 
ments hereinbefore  provided  for  re-erecting  said  building. 

Item  Eight : — After  making  the  provision  provided  for  in  Item 
Seven  my  trustees  shall  use  and  appropriate  any  and  all  remain- 
ing net  income  in  the  following  manner  and  for  the  following 
uses: 

(i)  They  shall  use,  pay  over  or  appropriate  one-quarter  part 
thereof,  annually,  to  and  for  the  use,  support  and  maintenance  of 
the  free  schools  of  and  in  my  native  town  of  Wolfeborough  and 
of  and  in  the  town  of  Tuftonborough,  X.  H.,  the  same  to  be  paid 
or  appropriated  in  proportion  to  amounts  annually  raised  and 
appropriated  by  or  for  the  several  school  districts  in  the  said 
towns  respectively.  The  payments  of  said  annuity  are  to  be  made 
at  such  times  and  manner  as  to  my  trustees  shall  seem  best  to 
accomplish  the  purpose  of  this  bequest  of  the  amounts  so  paid 
or  appropriated.  A  sum  not  exceeding  one-third  part  thereof 
may  be  used  in  building,  repairing  and  improving  schoolhouses 
in  said  towns  as  my  trustees  may  deem  expedient.  (2)  My  said 
trustees  shall  use,  pay  over  and  appropriate  one-quarter  part  of 
such  remaining  income  annually  to  and  for  the  use.  support  and 
maintenance  of  the  deserving  poor  and  persons  needing  aid  in  the 
said  towns  of  Wolfeborough  and  Tuftonborough  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, to  be  paid,  appropriated  or  distributed  in  such  manner,  at 
such  times,  and  to  such  persons  as  to  my  trustees  shall  seem  best 
to  accomplish  the  purpose  of  this  bequest.  And  the  decision  of 
my  trustees  as  to  such  payments  and  appropriations  for  said 
schools  and  for  said  persons  needing  aid  shall  be  final  and  con- 
clusive. (3)  My  trustees  shall  use  and  appropriate  all  income 
from  my  estate  remaining  after  making  all  payments  and  carrying 
out  all  provisions  hereinbefore  made  for  the  use  and  benefit  of 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


443 


said  Wolfeborough  and  Tuftonborough  Academy  upon  the  same 
conditions  and  restrictions  as  are  stated  in  Item  Six  of  this  will, 
except  that,  if  deemed  expedient  by  my  trustees,  an  amount  not 
exceeding  50  per  cent,  of  the  amount  herein  and  hereby  ap- 
propriated may  be  used  and  expended  in  erecting,  repairing  or 
improving  buildings  for  the  use  of  said  school. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

WOLFEBOROUGH'S  FOREMOST  SETTLER — COLONEL  HENRY  RUST 
AND  His  LONG  TRAIN  OF  DESCENDANTS — THE  FOUR 
HENREYS — THE  THREE  WORTHIES — THE  PARKER 
BRANCH  OF  THE  FAMILY — OTHER  PARKERS. 

ALL  things  considered,  there  is  one  man  who  above  all  others 
merits  the  title  of  the  "leading  settler  of  Wolfeborough." 
He  was  the  only  town  proprietor  who  cultivated  his  own  hold- 
ing ;  his  sons  first  swung  the  pioneer's  axe  in  these  wilds  ;  he 
labored  long  and  faithfully  for  the  welfare  of  his  backwoods  home, 
and  founded  a  family  whose  representatives  have  always  been 
prominent  in  the  town's  affairs.  This  man  was  Henry  Rust. 

Mr.  Rust,  first  known  by  the  title  "Captain,"  but  more  gen- 
erally by  that  of  "Colonel,"  was  born  in  Stratham,  Jan.  22,  1726. 
He  was  a  descendant  of  the  Henry  Rust  who  came  from  Hing- 
ham,  Norfolk  County,  England,  about  1633,  and  settled  at  Hing- 
ham,  Mass.  Col.  Rust  was  of  the  fifth  generation  from  the  emi- 
grant, and  was  the  fourth  child  of  Rev.  Henry  Rust,  who  was 
the  first  minister  settled  in  Stratham.  He  married  Ann  Harvey, 
of  Portsmouth,  and  from  the  union  were  born  eleven  children, 
four  of  them  dying  in  infancy  and  seven  of  them  marrying  and 
living  their  entire  lives  in  Wolfeborough.  Mrs.  Rust  died  June 
n,  1807,  four  days  after  the  decease  of  her  husband,  who  lived 
to  be  eighty-one  years  old. 

Colonel  Rust's  children  were:  Anna,  born  Nov.  4,  1751, 
married  Matthew  Stanley  Parker,  died  June  17,  1786;  Henry, 
born  March  4,  1754,  died  Oct.  23,  1754;  Henry  2nd,  born  May 
14,  1755,  married  Hannah  Home;  Richard,  born  Jan.  31,  1757, 
married  Susannah  Connor  and  Joanna  (Hobbs)  Jewett ;  Elisa- 
beth, born  Sept.  24,  1758,  married  Deeren  Stoddarcl,  died  Jan. 


HON.   HENRY   B.   RUST 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


445 


12,  1809;  Thomas,  born  May  19,  1760  died  March  27,  1761; 
Mary,  born  Aug.  23,  1761,  married  Isaiah  Home,  died  Sept.  30, 
1843;  Jane,  born  Nov.  19,  1763,  married  John  Home,  died  July 
15,  1843;  William,  born  Aug.  7,  1765,  married  Hannah  Marble, 
Susannah  Melvin,  and  Nancy  Wedgewood ;  Nathaniel,  born  Aug. 
15,  1767,  died  Oct.  28,  1767;  Margaret,  born  July  26,  1768,  died 
Dec.  1 8,  1768. 

Captain  Rust  probably  made  his  early  home  in  Portsmouth, 
as  in  1759,  when  he  became  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  town, 
he  was  master  of  a  vessel,  a  position  which  necessitated  years 
of  experience  in  navigation.  He  continued  the  sea-faring  busi- 
ness somewhat  after  commencing  his  settlement  in  Wolfeborough, 
as  is  shown  by  letters.  He  did  not  at  first  remove  the  whole  of 
his  family  to  the  town.  Certainly  his  sons,  Henry,  aged  fourteen 
years,  and  Richard,  aged  twelve  years,  spent  one  winter  at  least 
in  the  log  camp  built  on  the  northeasterly  border  of  his  lot.  They 
had  with  them  an  antiquated  equine  for  emergencies.  Mrs.  Rust, 
who  had  spent  her  youth  and  early  womanhood  in  Portsmouth, 
it  is  said,  reluctantly  exchanged  the  town  for  the  forest.  Yet  in 
the  autumn  of  her  life  she  possessed  a  home  "beautiful  for  situa- 
tion on  the  fine  ridge  of  land  bordering  that  lovely  sheet  of  water 
still  known  as  Rust's  Pond. 

Colonel  Rust  was  the  only  town  proprietor  who  settled  on 
his  lot,  which  contained  six  hundred  acres  of  land  situated  in 
the  southerly  part  of  the  town,  embracing  within  its  limits  a  large 
portion  of  Rust's  Pond  and  the  territory  on  which  stands  the 
village  of  South  Wolfeborough.  On  the  westerly  side  of  this 
lot  he  built  a  log  cabin,  which  was  occupied  by  the  male  members 
of  his  family  while  clearing  land,  before  the  whole  family  re- 
moved to  Wolfeborough.  While  the  laborers  were  one  day 
absent,  this  took  fire,  consuming  their  guns,  provisions,  and 
clothing,  including  their  hats,  which  were  not  usually  worn  into 
the  forests,  as  the  prevalence  of  noxious  insects  required  that 
the  entire  head  should  be  covered.  As  a  result,  the  entire  party 


446  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

were  compelled  to  return  to  Portsmouth  in  light  marching  order. 

Colonel  Rust's  lot  of  six  hundred  acres  was  eventually  divided  in- 
to four  parts.  He  retained  the  portion  lying  north  of  Rust's  Pond, 
and,  having  taken  into  his  family  his  grandson,  Henry  Rust 
Parker,  finally  bequeathed  it  to  him,  and  it  was  ever  afterwards 
known  as  the  Parker  place,  although  it  is  at  the  present  time  in 
the  possession  of  persons  of  other  names.  The  portion  south  of 
this  he  gave  to  his  son  Henry.  It  descended  to  his  son,  Henry 
Bloomfield  Rust,  and  then  to  his  son  Alphonzo  H.  Rust.  It 
is  not  now  in  the  possession  of  any  members  of  the  Rust  family. 
The  lot  on  which  a  portion  of  the  village  of  South  Wolfeborough 
now  stands  was  given  to  Richard  Rust,  and,  beginning  with  the 
settler,  has  been  in  the  possession  of  six  generations  of  the 
family,  viz.,  Colonel  Henry  Rust,  Richard  Rust,  Henry  Rust, 
George  Rust,  John  Henry  Rust,  and  Horace  Rust.  The  seventh 
generation  is  represented  on  this  farm  in  the  person  of  Lottie 
L.,  daughter  of  Horace,  aged  two  years.  The  most  easterly 
portion  of  the  settler's  lot  was  given  to  his  son  William,  passed 
into  the  hands  of  William,  Jr.,  and  then  to  the  families  of  his 
grand-daughters,  Hannah  (Rust)  Thompson  and  Betsy  (Rust) 
Leavitt.  It  is  now  owned  by  Harry  R.  Leavitt,  a  great-grandson. 

Colonel  Henry  Rust  was  regarded  as  a  just  and  conscientious 
man,  but  fixed  in  his  opinions  and  somewhat  austere  in  his  de- 
portment. His  early  training  as  ship-master  no  doubt  had  an 
influence  upon  his  later  life.  His  word  was  a  law  to  himself, 
and  generally  to  others  also.  Being  appointed  Judge  of  Probate 
for  Strafford  County  when  the  colony  of  New  Hampshire  was 
under  English  rule,  he  took  the  oath  of  allegience  to  the  crown, 
and  after  the  state  government  was  established,  declined  to  accept 
of  any  office  that  would  require  a  like  oath  to  the  American 
government.  He  was  very  useful  in  deciding  matters  of  dispute 
between  neighbors  and  townsmen,  the  decision  of  Colonel  Rust 
being  generally  regarded  as  final.  He  possessed  sound  judgment 
and  honest  intentions,  and,  having  the  confidence  of  the  general 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  447 

public,  no  doubt  prevented  some  vexatious  and  expensive  litiga- 
tion. 

He  and  his  family  connections  have  been  much  in  office.  He 
served  eight  years  as  selectman.  His  son  Henry  was  town  clerk 
five  years  and  a  member  of  the  state  legislature  four  years,  the 
first  year  representing  the  classed  towns,  Wolfeborough  and 
Brookfield,  and  the  other  three  years  Wolfeborough  alone.  His 
son  Richard  served  as  town  clerk  four  years  and  as  selectman 
nine  years.  His  son-in-law,  Matthew  S.  Parker,  was  town  clerk 
nine  years  and  selectman  six  years.  He  held  both  these  offices 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  in  the 
prime  of  manhood.  His  acquired  ability  was  far  superior  to  any 
other  citizen  of  the  town.  Had  he  not  lived,  the  history  of  Wolfe- 
borough  would  have  been  more  incomplete  than  it  is.  His  son- 
in-law,  Isaiah  Home,  served  as  selectman  four  years,  town  clerk 
four  years,  and  as  representative  six  years.  His  grandson,  Henry 
Rust  Parker,  served  as  selectman  seven  years,  his  grandsons, 
Isaiah  Green  Orne  and  Charles  Belker  Orne,  each  one  year. 
His  grandson,  Thomas  Rust,  held  the  office  of  town  clerk  two 
years  and  that  of  selectman  three  years.  He  was  also  a  county 
judge.  His  grandson,  Henry  Bloomfield  Rust,  served  as  selectman 
one  year  and  as  representative  six  years,  was  a  member  of  the 
New  Hampshire  Senate  and  of  the  Council,  and  was  judge  of 
the  county  court.  Alphonzo  Rust  was  twice  representative  and 
twice  councilor.  His  great-grandson,  George  Rust,  and  his  great- 
great-grandson,  John  H.  Rust,  were  each  twice  elected  selectmen. 
Colonel  Rust  and  his  descendants  have,  since  the  organization 
of  the  town,  held  the  office  of  town  clerk  twenty-six  years,  of 
selectman  forty-five  years,  of  representative  eighteen  years. 

*Henry  Rust,  Jr.,  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Ebenezer 
Home.  He  died  Nov.  2,  1844.  His  wife  died  Oct.  4.  1843.  aged 

"Henry  Rust  made  many  of  the  early  surveys  in  this  and  adjoining 
towns.  In  1804  he  projected  a  map  of  the  town,  upon  which  are 
based  many  of  the  deeds  given  since  that  time.  Many  copies  of  these 
deeds  are  now  in  the  possession  of  his  grandson,  Albert  B.  Rust. 


448  HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

eighty-one  years.  Their  children  were:  Hannah,  born  Dec.  21, 
1784,  married  Henry  Rust  Parker;  Ann,  born  Jan.  20,  1788,  died 
Jan.  23,  1793;  Betsy  Allen,  born  Dec.  13,  1790,  married  M. 
James  Chamberlin,  died  Feb.  29,  1816;  Henry  Bloomfield,  born 
May  n,  1794,  married  Pamelia  Home  and  Hannah  S.  Jewett; 
Nancy,  born  Feb.  20,  1798,  died  June  23,  1799;  Fanny  Parker, 
born  Feb.  13,  1800,  died  Oct.,  1803. 

Richard  Rust  married  first  Susannah,  daughter  of  James  Con- 
nor. She  died  March  21,  1809,  aged  forty-six  years.  He  mar- 
ried second  Mrs.  Joanna  (Hobbs)  Jewett,  widow  of  Andrew 
Jewett,  who  died  Nov.  15,  1822,  aged  fifty-one  years.  He  mar- 
ried third  Mrs.  Eleanor  Clark  Piper,  widow  of  John  Light  Piper. 
She  died  July  23,  1856,  aged  eighty-five  years.  Mr.  Rust  died 
Dec.  27,  1827,  aged  seventy  years.  His  children,  all  by  his  first 
wife,  were:  Richard,  born  Apr.  2,  1782,  married  Sally  Thurston ; 
Henry,  born  March  19,  1785,  married  Nancy  Norris ;  Susannah, 
born  Jan.  21,  1787,  married  Nathaniel  Chase ;  Mary  Connor,  born 
July  7,  1789,  married  Gilman  Folsom ;  Eleanor,  born  March  18, 

1792,  married  James  Chamberlain;  Joshua,  born  May  28,   1794, 
died  April,  1802;  Martha,  born  July  20,  1796,  married  Nathaniel 
Rogers;  Thomas,  born  Nov.  27,  1798,  married  Phebe  C.  Piper; 
Joseph  Peirce,  born  April  6,  1801,  married  Mary  Chamberlain, 
died  Jan.  31,  1848. 

William  Rust,  son  of  Col.  Henry  Rust,  was  born  Aug.  7,  1/65. 
He  married  Dec.  3,  1787  Hannah,  daughter  of  Samuel  Marble, 
of  Stratham,  born  Jan.  15,  1760.  died  Aug.  4,  1802.  He 
married  second  Mrs.  Susannah  Melvin,  who  died  Oct.  8, 
1815,  aged  forty-seven  years;  third,  Mrs.  Nancy  Wedgewood, 
who  died  Aug.  4.  1845,  aged  sixty-five  years.  Mr.  Rust  died 
Sept.  5,  1851,  aged  eighty-six  years.  His  children  were:  Wil- 
liam, born  June  I,  1/88,  married  Olive  Deland  ;  Nathaniel,  born 
Sept.  9,  1790,  married  Lydia  Folsom;  Sarah,  born  Dec.  15, 

1793,  married  James,  son  of  Jacob  Folsom;  Meshack,  Shadrich, 
and  Abednego,  triplets,  born  Aug.  20,   1796;  Meshack  married 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Martha  Frost;  Shadrich  died  Feb.  2,  1797;  Abednego  married 
Hannah  Mayhew  and  Sally  Moulton ;  Hannah,  born  Feb.  28, 
1801,  died  Dec.  I,  1815. 

Henry  Bloomfield  Rust,  son  of  Henry  Rust  and  grandson  of 
the  settler,  was  born  May  n,  1794.    He  was  more  widely  known 
than  any  of  the  Rust  family  of  Wolfeborough.    He  was  christened 
Henry,  but  added  Bloomfield  to  his  name,  assigning  as  a  reason 
that  there  were  too  many  Henry  Rusts  in  the  town,  there  being 
then  on  the  check-list  four  of  that  name.    Mr.  Rust  married,  Dec. 
28,  1815,  Pamelia  Home,  by  whom  he  had  the  following  children  : 
Pamelia  Caroline,  born  Aug.  14,  1816,  married  Ezra  Pinkham, 
died  Sept.  29,  1870;  Henry  Lorenzo,  born  July  n,  1818,  married 
Lucinda  Hancock  and  Alphonzo  H.,  born.  Feb.  8,  1820,  married 
Betsy  Furbur;  Betsy  Ann  Parker,  born  Sept.  2,  1821,  married 
James  F.  Dixon,  died  Oct.  2,  1847.     ^e  married  second,  Oct. 
i,    1823,    Hannah   S.,   daughter  of  Andrew  Jewett.     She    was 
born  in  the  Jewett  Tavern  April  13,  1798,  and  died  May  29,  1888. 
She   was   a  remarkably   intelligent   person,   even   when   verging 
upon  the  age  of  an  octogenarian.    Judge  Rust,  as  he  was  generally 
termed,  was  a  man  of  fine  physique  and  affable  manners.     For 
the  first  twelve  years  of  his  married  life  he  lived  with  his  father 
on  the  home  farm,  but  in   1835  ne  removed  to  South   Wolfe- 
borough  village,  where  he   spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  in 
various   kinds   of   business,   principally   in   merchandizing.      For 
years  he  had  a  controlling  influence  in  the  village  and  even  in 
the  whole  town  of  Wolfeborough.     He  was  an  ardent  democrat, 
and  occupied  a  prominent  position  in  that  party,  which  was  for 
some   decades   dominant  in   the   state   of  New   Hampshire.      In 
1828-9  he  was  a  member  of  the  new  House  of  Representatives, 
in  1838  a  member  of  the  Senate,  and  in  1841-2  a  member  of  the 
Council.     In  1846-7  and  in  1852  he  was  again  a  member  of  the 
House  of   Representatives,  and  in   1832  was  appointed   one  of 
the  associate  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Hampshire. 
He  died  July  27,  1876,  aged  eighty-two  years.     By  Mr.  Rust's 


450 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


second  marriage  there  were  seven  children :  Joanna  Adaline, 
born  Aug.  25,  1824,  died  May  15,  1826;  Charlotte  Elvira,  born 
Aug.  30,  1826,  married  Daniel  Wood ;  Augustus  Jewett,  born 
Oct.  19,  1828,  died  Sept.  6,  1836 ;  Cecilia  Eliza,  born  Dec.  28, 
1830,  died  Nov.  8,  1856;  Albert  Bloomfield,  born  Sept.  10,  1833; 
George  Erastus  Parker,  born  Dec.  28,  1835,  married  Josephine 
Haines  and  Lucy  A.  Pike ;  Hannah  Jewett,  born  July  9,  1839, 
married  George  Burbank,  from  whom  she  was  divorced,  and  re- 
sumed the  name  of  Rust,  has  one  child,  Eliza  Harvey,  born  July 

9,  1865,  married  Arthur  Q.  Mosely,  of  Westfield,  Mass. 
Henry  Rust,  the  son  of  Richard  Rust,  was  born  March   19, 

1785,  and  married  Nancy  Norriss.  Their  children  were  :  George, 
born  July  10,  1810,  died  Sept.  25,  1890;  Louisa,  born  Nov.  i, 
1812,  married  John  McDuffee. 

The  above  named  George  Rust  married  Drusilla  B.  Davis.  The 
result  of  the  union  was  three  children :  John  Henry,  born  Nov. 

10,  1835,  married  Phoebe  A.  Webster;  Lucy  Ellen,  born  June  15, 
1845,   rnarried   Curtis   E.   Waclleigh ;   Harriet   Anna,   born   Sept. 
13,  1847,  died  Oct.  13,  1864. 

Thomas  Rust,  son  of  Richard  Rust  and  grandson  of  the  settler, 
was  born  Nov.  27,  1798.  He  spent  his  early  life  in  teaching 
school  and  surveying,  and  succeeded  his  father  in  the  caVe  of 
the  Rust  Tavern,  now  the  Sheridan  House  at  Wolfeborough 
village.  He  was  deputy  postmaster  several  years,  held  the  offices 
of  town  clerk,  selectman,  and  school  committee,  did  much 
business  as  justice  of  peace  in  settling  estates,  etc.,  and  was 
county  judge.  He  merchandized  somewhat,  was  deacon  and 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  connected  with  the  Con- 
gregational Church  for  many  years,  and  was  a  useful  and  cir- 
cumspect citizen  during  his  long  life.  He  died  Jan.  16,  1890, 
aged  ninety-two  years.  He  married,  March  19,  1823,  Phebe  C. 
Piper,  who  proved  a  helpmeet  indeed.  She  died  Sept.  15,  1887, 
aged  eighty-seven  years.  Their  children  were:  Susan  Jane, 
born  Jan.  5,  1825,  married  Rev.  Nathaniel  Coffin;  John  Richard, 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


451 


born  May  23,  1828,  married  Mary  L.  Pierce  of  Dover,  N.  H.; 
Thomas  Henry,  died  in  infancy;  George  Henry,  born  July  26, 
1839,  married  Josephine  Varney. 

John  Richard  Rust  was  formerly  a  civil  engineer,  and  engaged 
in  the  construction  of  railroads  in  New  Hampshire,  Ohio, 
Indiana,  Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  Maine,  and  Vermont,  and  for 
ten  years  held  official  relations  with  the  St.  Johnsbury  and  Lake 
Champlain  railroad.  He  is  now  manufacturer  of  flour  at  the 
Forest  Mills,  near  Zumbrota,  Minn. 

Nathaniel  Rust,  son  of  William  Rust  and  grandson  of  the 
Colonel,  was  born  Sept.  9,  1790.  He  married  first,  Lydia  Fol- 
som,  daughter  of  Jacob  Folsom,  second,  Fannie,  daughter  of 
Andrew  Wiggin,  third,  Mary,  widow  of  Benjamin  Fullerton  and 
daughter  of  James  Wiggin.  He  was  deacon  of  the  First  Christian 
Church  of  Wolfeborough.  He  died  Aug.  I.  1859.  His  children 
were:  Hannah,  born  July  i,  1817,  married  Josiah  Norris ; 
Lydia,  born  Feb.  23,  1819,  married  Charles  L.  Hamilton,  died 
Jan.  3,  1869;  Nathaniel  Parker,  born  Sept.  18,  1821,  died  Nov. 
23,  1823 ;  Nathaniel  Parker  2nd,  born  Sept.  28,  1824,  married 
Sarah  A.  Stoddard  and  Harriet  Wallace,  killed  in  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion;  Frances  Ann,  born  Nov.  21,  1827,  married  Wil- 
liam P.  Watson,  died  March  29,  1867;  Charles  Augustus,  born 
March  28,  1830,  married  Mary  A.  Rollins ;  Martha  Camelia,  born 
Feb.  26,  1833,  married  W.  K.  Simmons  and  Joseph  A.  Johnson ; 
Alfred,  born  Dec.  20,  1840,  died  Apr.  i,  1842. 

Henry  Rust  Parker,  son  of  Matthew  Stanley  Parker,  married 
Hannah  H.  Rust.  Their  children  were :  John  Tappan,  born 
Sept.  5,  1804,  married  Sally  L.  Seavey,  died  Sept.  25,  1848; 
Samuel  Sewall,  born  Nov.  9,  1807,  married  Jane  Cate,  died  Sept. 
20,  1848;  Eliza  Chamberlain,  born  Nov.  n.  1811,  died  May  17, 
1825 ;  Matthew  Stanley,  born  June  22,  1812,  married  Clarrisa 
Blake  and  Elizabeth  Perkins. 

The  children  of  John  Tappan  Parker  were :  Eliza  Frances, 
born  July  30,  1826,  married  Asa  Perkins  and  Clark  Collins ;  Ruth 


452 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


Ann,  born  Aug.  19,  1832,  married  Moses  Thompson,  died  March 
18,  1897 ;  Henry  Rust,  born  Jan.  24,  1836,  married  Ella,  daughter 
of  Moses  and  Hannah  Thompson;  George  Seavey,  born  March 
2,  1842. 

Henry  Rust  Parker,  the  son  mentioned  above,  is  a  self-made 
man.  He  was  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  twelve  years,  but  being 
determined  to  obtain  an  education,  he  at  once  set  about  the 
work  of  procuring  the  means  to  accomplish  his  purpose.  He 
quite  early  qualified  himself  for  a  teacher,  and  took  charge  of  a 
high  school  at  Farmington,  which  situation  he  creditably  nll^d 
for  six  years,  meantime  pursuing  a  course  of  medical  study.  He 
graduated  from  the  medical  department  of  Dartmouth  College 
in  1866,  and  commenced  practising  his  profession  in  his  native 
town.  In  1881  he  removed  to  Dover,  N.  H.,  in  which  city  he 
continues  to  reside.  He  has  an  extensive  and  lucrative  practice, 
is  a  member  of  several  medical  societies,  and  in  1890  was  elected 
Mayor  of  Dover. 

Samuel  Sewall  Parker,  son  of  the  first  Henry  Rust  Parker, 
married  Jane  Gate.  Their  children  were:  Charles  Franklin, 
born  Sept.  2,  1828,  married  Lizzie  Boyd,  was  cashier  of  Lake 
Bank,  and  has  held  other  responsible  social  and  official  positions, 
was  superintendent  of  the  Congregational  Sunday-school  many 
years,  and  is  a  deacon  of  the  Congregational  Church ;  Harey 
Stanley  Sewail,  born  Feb.  18,  1832,  married  Hester  Stevens; 
John  William,  born  May  2,  1840,  married  Abbie  Haley ;  Samuel 
Woodbury,  born  Nov.  18,  1843,  proprietor  of  Grand  Pacific 
Hotel,  Chicago. 

Following  are  the  children  of  Deering  Stoddard,  who  married 
Elisabeth,  daughter  of  Col.  Henry  Rust:  Loving,  born  Apr.  5, 
1787,  married  Fanny  Goldsmith,  died  Jan.  12,  1809;  Nancy,  born 
Nov.  5,  1789,  married  Jonathan  Hilton;  Deering,  born  Feb.  3, 
1791,  died  Dec.  12,  1802;  Elizabeth,  born  Apr.  7,  1793,  died  Feb. 
2,  1812;  Sally,  born  June  21,  1795,  married  James  Chamberlain, 
died  Oct.  29,  1828;  Hannah,  born  Feb.  22,  1797,  married  Jona- 


DR.    HENRY   R.   PARKER 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  453 

than  Copp  and  James  Buzzell ;  Obadiah,  born  Aug.  9,  1799, 
married  Sally  Eaton;  Martha,  born  Dec.  2,  1801,  died  Dec.  4, 
1802. 

John  H.  Rust's  children  are:  Carrie,  born  Nov.  30,  1860, 
married  Henry  W.  Chase;  Etta,  born  Dec.  25,  1862;  George, 
born  March  19,  1865,  married  Louise  V.  Prescott,  of  Peabody, 
Mass. ;  Horace,  born  Nov.  30,  1867,  married  Edith  Brown. 

Albert  Bloomlield  Rust  has  been  a  useful  citizen.  He  has 
served  for  nine  years  most  acceptably  on  the  school  board,  has 
acted  as  presiding  officer  of  many  public  gatherings,  and  has 
taken  a  keen  interest  in  historical  matters  relating  to  his  native 
town.  His  only  daughter,  Josephine,  married,  1899,  Harry  M. 
Bickford,  of  Wolfeborough. 

In  this  connection,  the  only  other  Parker  family  living  in  town 
may  be  considered,  although  they  have  no  relationship  with  the 
before  mentioned  branch. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Parker,  son  of  Samuel  Gridley  Parker,  of 
Boston,  Mass.,  and  Sarah  Thurston  Kelly,  of  Stratham,  was  born 
in  Stratham,  Apr.  21,  1817.  He  came  to  Wolfeborough  in  1831, 
and  was  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  Dec.  30,  1900,  a  resident  of 
the  town.  July,  1850,  he  married  Harriet  B.  Whitton,  daughter 
of  Daniel  Whitton,  who  was  born  Feb.  10,  1831.  His  children 
are:  Sarah  Elizabeth,  born  Apr.  25,  1852,  died  Aug.  19,  1869; 
Harriet  Eva,  born  Aug.  30,  1854;  Frank  Sumner,  born  Jan.  8, 
1857,  married  Annie  I.  Warren ;  Charles  Whitton,  born  Feb.  24, 
1859,  died  Sept.  30,  1861 ;  Abbie  Blaisdell,  born  July  27,  1861  ; 
Vilette  Maud,  born  March  19,  1866,  married  Hoyt  H.  Tucker, 
of  Athens,  Me.;  Bert  Wiggin,  born  Jan.  29,  1871;  Grace 
Manning,  born  Jan.  29,  1876. 

Charles  Henry  Parker,  brother  of  Benjamin,  came  to  Wolfe- 
borough  in  1833.  He  afterwards  spent  several  years  in  New- 
market. Coming  to  this  town  after  his  marriage,  he  became 
editor  of  the  "Granite  State  News,"  which  he  conducted  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death  in  1894.  He  married,  Sept.  19,  1849,  Sophia 


454 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


B.  Blaisdell,  of  Middleton,  who  was  born  Sept.  2,  1829.  His 
children  are :  Mary  Abbie,  born  Feb.  25,  1851,  married  Frederick 
W.  Prindle,  has  one  daughter,  Ada  Bernice ;  Frances  Ann,  born 
Dec.  6,  1853,  married  George  F.  Mathes,  has  one  son,  Charles 
Albert;  Alice  S.,  born  Feb.  12,  1856,  married  Charles  C.  Thomp- 
son; Nettie,  born  May  13,  1860,  married  Edwin  L.  Furber,  died 
Dec.  28,  1893,  leaving  one  daughter,  Alice  May. 

Israel  B.  Manning,  a  son  of  the  Sarah  Thurston  Parker  before 
mentioned  and  Ephriam  Manning,  was  born  in  Newmarket  in 
1832.  He  came  to  Wolfeborough  in  1854,  and  has  been  since 
that  time  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  He  married  Annah 
N.  Newell,  of  this  town,  a  daughter  of  John  Newell.  Mr.  Man- 
ning has  had  an  active  hand  in  the  town's  affairs,  having  been 
twice  chosen  representative,  twice  supervisor,  three  times  town 
treasurer,  four  times  a  water  commissioner,  and  twice  moderator. 
As  a  member  of  the  committee  appointed  to  construct  the  town's 
water  system,  he  was  perhaps  more  responsible  than  any  other 
man  for  the  selection  of  the  Beech  Pond  supply,  a  choice  that 
experience  has  shown  to  be  a  wise  one. 

Joseph  K.  Manning,  a  brother  of  Israel,  was  for  some  years 
interested  in  the  manufacture  and  retailing  of  shoes  here. 

George  K.  Manning,  another  brother,  lived  here,  as  a  boy,  with 
Daniel  Whitton,  Isaac  Wiggin,  and  James  Estes.  He  returned  to 
the  town  late  in  life,  and  died  here  Jan.  12,  1900. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

NEWSPAPERS — CARROLL  COUNTY  REPUBLICAN  ESTABLISHED  AT 
SOUTH  WOLFEBOROUGH  —  CARROLL  COUNTY  PIONEER 
— CARROLL  COUNTY  REGISTER — GRANITE  STATE  NEWS 
— CARROLL  COUNTY  DEMOCRAT — SKETCH  OF  CHARLES 
H.  PARKER — LAWYERS  AND  DOCTORS — BRIEF  SKETCH- 
ES OF  MEN  FAMOUS  IN  THESE  CALLINGS — "SQUIRE" 
BATCHELDER — CHARLES  F.  HILL — WILLIAM  Fox — SEW- 
ALL  W.  ABBOTT — DOCTORS  CUTTER,  MCNORTON,  HALL 
TEBBETTS,  PATTEE,  AND  KING. 

SOUTH  Wolfeborough  was  the  scene  of  many  important 
events  connected  with  the  early  history  of  the  town,  and 
here  was  established  the  first  newspaper  published  in  the  county, 
in  January  Junot  J.  Whitehouse  was  the  editor,  and  the 
paper  was  the  "Carroll  County  Republican."  It  was  a  four-page, 
six-column  sheet,  with  considerable  legal  and  other  advertising, 
and  was  well  conducted,  but,  like  so  many  other  ventures  of  this 
kind,  it  had  but  a  short  existence.  In  politics  it  was  democratic, 
although  it  favored  the  abolition  of  slavery.  Possibly  this — for 
the  times — anomalous  policy  had  something  to  do  with  its  early 
den.ise. 

January,  1856,  saw  another  effort  to  establish  a  journal.  John 
F.  Roberts,  a  printer  with  experience  in  Boston  and  New  York 
offices,  gave  to  the  world  the  "Carroll  County  Pio- 
neer." The  office  was  in  what  was  then,  as  now, 
known  as  the  bank  building.  The  "Pioneer"  was  con- 
ducted along  practically  the  same  lines  as  its  predecessor, 
except  that  it  was  republican  in  politics.  Mr.  Roberts  was  an 
excellent  printer,  a  hard-working,  honest  man  of  fair  ability,  and 
in  spite  of  many  obstacles,  issued  the  paper  until  March,  1858, 

455 


456 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


when  he  sold  out  to  D.  Warren  Furber.  Mr.  Furber  continued 
the  publication  some  months,  and  then  removed  to  Rochester. 

Mr.  Roberts  had  meanwhile  established  a  job  office  at  Ossipee, 
and  in  May,  1859,  began  the  publication  of  the  "Carroll  County 
Register,"  which  he  published  for  nearly  six  years. 

The  "Granite  J>tate  News"  was  started  by  James  R.  Newell, 
who  had  not  then  arrived  at  his  majority,  November  I,  1860,  and 
was  printed  on  a  second-hand  press,  then  over  fifty  years  old. 
The  "News"  was  first  a  six-column  paper  issued  weekly,  "at  $1.00 
per  year,  in  advance,  or  $1.25  if  paid  within  the  year."  In  his 
"Introductory"  Mr.  Newell  said:  "It  will  be  the  aim  of  the 
publisher  to  make  the  'News'  a  family  paper — one  which  will 
be  entertaining  to  all.  We  shall  devote  particular  attention  to 
the  collection  and  publication  of  items  of  local  news,  in  order 
that  persons  who  formerly  resided  in  this  vicinity,  and  who  have 
removed  to  other  places,  may,  by  subscribing  to  the  'News,'  be 
kept  informed  of  everything  of  interest  that  transpires  in  the 
neighborhood  of  their  former  homes." 

Mr.  Newell  edited  and  personally  conducted  the  paper  until 
Dec.  5,  1861,  when  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Co.  I,  8th  N.  H. 
Volunteers,  and  left  his  business  in  charge  of  Charles  H.  Parker. 
Mr.  Newell  was  the  only  person  in  the  office  who  had  a  com- 
petent knowledge  of  the  printing  business,  and  his  successor 
soon  found  his  position  anything  but  a  sinecure.  With  a  small 
subscription  list,  an  office  wanting  in  almost  everything  in  the 
way  of  material,  to  say  nothing  of  skilled  workmen,  with  little 
advertising  and  less  job  custom,  the  price  of  stock  and  wages 
constantly  increasing,  it  was,  perhaps,  as  well  that  the  new  pub- 
lisher was  uninformed  as  to  the  requirements  of  a  successful 
printing  and  newspaper  business.  White  paper,  as  an  example, 
during  war  times  rose  in  price  from  nine  to  as  high  as  thirty-two 
cents  per  pound.  The  profit  on  the  low  basis  of  subscription 
would  be  purely  imaginary. 

After  four  years,  Mr.  Newell,  despairing  of  making  the  paper 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  457 

self-sustaining,  decided  to  sell  if  possible ;  if  not,  to  discontinue. 
It  was  in  the  midst  of  the  second  Lincoln  campaign,  and  Mr. 
Parker,  thinking  it  would  not  do  for  the  story  to  get  about  that 
a  republican  paper  had  died  for  want  of  support  in  such  a  crisis, 
purchased  the  establishment,  increased  the  subscription  to  $1.50 
per  year,  and  bought  the  list  of  the  "Carroll  County  Record." 
By  putting  in  sixteen  hours  work  each  day  himself  and  making 
typos  of  his  girls  when  they  should  have  been  in  the  schoolroom, 
seven  years  was  added  to  the  life  of  the  paper. 

Meanwhile,  some  prominent  democrats  conceived  the  idea 
that  it  was  necessary  to  establish  an  organ  of  their  political  faith, 
and  guaranteed  Elijah  Couillard  five  hundred  dollars  in  cash  and 
a  subscription  list  of  five  hundred  names,  if  he  would  start  such 
a  paper.  As  a  result,  the  "Carroll  County  Democrat"  was  brought 
forth,  which  ran  two  or  three  years  and  died  of  starvation.  Since 
then,  the  "News"  has  had  possession  of  the  local  field. 

In  1872  the  publisher  of  the  "News"  enlarged  the  paper  to 
seven  columns  per  page,  and  with  the  assistance  of  a  friend  pur- 
chased a  Fairhaven  power  press.  Before  this  purchase  there  had 
been  but  one  press  in  the  office  for  all  purposes.  This  was  the 
old  "patent  lever"  purchased  by  Mr.  Newell,  which  was  used  in 
the  office  until  destroyed  by  the  fire  of  May,  1899.  This  press 
was  built  in  1804.  In  December,  1879,  Mr.  Parker  still  further 
enlarged  the  "News"  to  its  present  size.  New  presses  and  ma- 
terial were  added  from  time  to  time  until  a  well-equipped  office 
had  been  established. 

Some  fifteen  years  ago  the  office  was  removed  from  the  bank 
building — after  a  small  fire — to  the  B.  &  M.  railroad  building 
near  the  wharf,  and  since  that  structure  was  destroyed  by  fire, 
has  been  located  at  the  Durgin  building  on  North  Main  Street. 

Associated  with  Messrs.  Parker  and  Newell  in  the  early  man- 
agement of  the  paper,  were  I.  B.  Manning  and  Burley  B.  Newell, 
a  brother  of  the  editor.  B.  F.  Parker  did  much  to  increase  the 
original  subscription  list.  Since  the  death  of  Charles  H.  Parker 


458  HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

in  1894,  the  paper  has  been  conducted  by  Frederick  W.  Prindle, 
Mr.  Parker's  son-in-law,  who  had  for  some  eighteen  years  been 
associated  with  him  in  the  mechanical  department.  Mr.  Prindle 
disposed  of  the  paper  in  1896  to  Ethelbert  Baier,  of  Washington, 
D.  C,  but  after  a  few  months  again  came  into  possession  of  the 
property.  In  1899  a  stock  company  was  formed,  with  Mr.  Prindle 
as  manager.  The  present  office  is  well-equipped  in  all  depart- 
ments, and  the  "Granite  State  News"  is  now  an  institution  in 
the  town  and  an  influence  throughout  the  country. 

Charles  Henry  Parker,  for  many  years  editor  of  the  "Granite 
State  News,"  deserves  more  than  passing  mention.  He  was  one 
of  the  old  school  of  self-educated  scholars,  and  from  his  earliest 
boyhood  had  to  depend  entirely  upon  his  own  unaided  efforts. 
Mr.  Parker  was  born  in  Portsmouth,  May  26,  1819.  When  only 
seven  years  of  age,  he  was  "bound"  to  a  farmer  for  seven  years, 
but  broke  away  at  the  age  of  eleven,  continuing,  however,  to 
work  on  farms  until  he  was  seventeen.  In  1831  he  came  to 
Wolfeborough,  but,  desiring  to  be  near  his  mother,  who  needed 
his  aid,  he  went  to  Newmarket  and  became  an  operative  in  a 
cotton  factory.  Up  to  this  time  his  opportunities  for  learning  had 
been  most  meagre,  but  he  now  began  to  employ  his  spare  mo- 
ments in  securing  an  education.  He  rapidly  became  proficient 
in  the  common  and  high  school  branches  of  study  then  taught, 
and  after  some  hesitancy  accepted  a  position  offered  him  as 
teacher  in  a  back  district  school  in  Lee.  He  succeeded  so  well 
that  he  opened  a  private  school  in  Newmarket,  and  was  soon 
induced  to  take  charge  of  one  of  the  village  schools.  This  school 
he  taught  for  twenty-one  terms  in  the  same  room.  He  then 
taught  three  terms  in  Searsport,  Me.,  and,  coming  again  to  Wolfe- 
borough,  taught  several  terms  here.  Many  well-known  men  were 
pupils  of  his  in  the  "Old  Brick  Schoolhouse." 

For  some  time  his  principal  business  in  Wolfeborough  was 
official.  He  was  deputy-sheriff  eight  years,  was  high  sheriff  five 
years,  and  was  twice  sent  to  the  legislature.  In  1860,  at  Mr. 


CHARLES   H.  PARKER 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  459 

Newell's  request,  he  took  charge  of  his  paper  until  a  permanent 
editor  was  secured.  For  nearly  thirty-five  years  he  wielded  the 
editorial  pen. 

Under  his  management  the  "News"  was  always  aggressive  in 
the  advocacy  of  the  right  as  he  saw  it.  He  did  not  always  take 
the  popular  side  of  questions,  perhaps  not  always  the  right  side, 
but  no  one  who  knew  him  ever  questioned  his  motive.  Originally 
a  democrat,  he  was  one  of  the  few  who  organized  the  Liberal — 
the  first  anti-slavery — party  in  this  state.  He  afterwards  acted 
with  the  Free-soil  and  republican  parties,  being  a  strong  follower 
of  the  latter  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  a  Free  Mason, 
an  Odd  Fellow,  a  Unitarian,  and  first,  last,  and  all  the  time, 
a  temperance  worker. 

Mr.  Parker  possessed  abilities  that  would,  under  more  favor- 
able circumstances,  have  given  him  a  more  than  local  or  even 
state  reputation.  It  was  easier  for  him  to  be  honest  than  to 
court  popularity.  He  did  much  in  his  day  for  the  social  and 
moral  uplifting  of  the  community  in  which  his  lot  was  cast. 

LAWYERS. 

Wolfeborough  has  had  in  its  day  a  goodly  number  of  able 
lawyers.  It  is  no  reflection  upon  those  of  the  present  generation 
to  consider  the  following  as  the  bright  and  particular  stars  of 
the  town's  legal  firmament. 

Zachariah,  or  "Squire,"  Batchelder,  as  he  was  popularly  desig- 
nated, was  one  of  the  marked  men  of  his  time.  He  was  born  in 
Beverly,  Mass.,  in  1795,  but  came  with  his  parents  to  Sunapee 
at  an  early  age.  He  graduated  at  Dartmouth,  and  after  some 
years  spent  in  teaching  and  the  study  of  law,  came  to  Wolfe- 
borough  and  established  himself  in  his  profession.  It  had  been 
his  cherished  hope  to  enter  the  ministry,  but  as  time  passed,  and 
he  gained  more  definite  views  of  the  clerical  office,  his  natural 
diffidence  and  self-distrust  led  him  to  conclude  that  he  was  better 


460  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

adapted  to  some  other  profession.  Mr.  Batchelder  was  highly 
educated  and  was  a  close  student  of  the  classics  throughout  his 
life.  His  attainments  as  a  lawyer  were  of  the  first  order.  He 
was,  in  fact,  the  scholar  of  the  county.  His  influence  was  far 
beyond  the  duties  of  his  profession.  He  was  a  vigorous  debater, 
and  the  few  surviving  members  of  the  "old  lyceum"  will  remem- 
ber the  occasion  upon  which  he  so  sorely  worsted  young  Henry 
Wilson  that  the  future  vice-president  burst  into  tears.  He  lived 
a  bachelor  all  his  life  and  was  noted  for  certain  eccentricities  in 
dress  and  manner,  but  his  mind  "a  glorious  kingdom  was." 

Joseph  Farrar,  a  native  of  Vermont,  came  to  Wolfeborough 
from  Chelsea,  Mass.,  where  he  had  been  admitted  to  practice. 
He  was  here  early  in  the  century,  and  after  the  construction  of 
the  Pickering  store  had  his  office  in  that  building.  He  is  remem- 
bered as  a  man  of  middle  height  and  old-time  courtesy  of  man- 
ner, and  if  he  was  less  scholastic  than  Batchelder,  was  safe  in 
counsel  and  well-posted  in  statute  and  common  law.  He  was 
a  doughty  antagonist  in  court  and  with  Mr.  Batchelder  controlled 
the  legal  practice  of  this  part  of  the  county  for  a  long  time. 

Charles  F.  Hill  was  a  native  of  Limerick,  Maine.  He  read 
law  with  his  uncle,  Joshua  Hill,  of  Frankfort,  and  practised  a  few 
years  at  Searsport.  He  then  came  to  Wolfeborough  and  estab- 
lished a  lucrative  practice  and  was  a  leading  member  of  the  Car- 
roll County  bar.  He  went  to  New  Jersey  some  thirty  years  ago, 
and  for  many  years  had  a  law  office  in  New  York  City.  He 
died  in  Newark  in  1889,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  He  was  "a 
lawyer  of  marked  ability,  a  convincing  and  able  advocate,  and 
a  man  of  high  personal  and  professional  character/'  in  the 
opinion  of  Hon.  Joel  Eastman.  Mr.  Hill  married  Lavinia,  a 
sister  of  Benjamin  F.  and  Charles  H.  Parker,  and  his  three 
children,  Charles  E.,  Frank,  and  Helen  (Mrs.  A.  Baxter  Mer- 
win),  were  born  here.  Charles  E.  has  been  state  representative 
from  Newark  and  president  of  the  city  council.  He  is  also  a 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  461 

lawyer  of  reputation,  and  has  associated  with  him  his  son, 
Charles  G. 

William  Copp  Fox  will  go  down  in  history  as  a  poet,  racon- 
teur, and  nature  lover  rather  than  a  lawyer,  although  he  stood 
high  in  the  legal  profession.  He  was  born  in  Wolfeborough,  Dec. 
29,  1827,  and  lived  here  until  his  tragic  death  by  drowning  in 
1898.  Mr.  Fox  was  educated  in  the  old  Academy,  Gilmanton, 
and  Dartmouth,  graduating  from  the  college  in  1852.  He  read 
law  with  Zachariah  Batchelder  and  Josiah  H.  Hobbs,  of  Wake- 
field.  He  engaged  in  educational  pursuits  early  in  life,  was  prin- 
cipal of  Wakefield  Academy,  and  was  two  years  school  com- 
missioner of  Carroll  County.  He  has  been  president  of  the  Wolfe- 
borough  Savings  Bank  and  of  the  Carroll  County  Bar  Associa- 
tion. He  acquired  an  orange  grove  in  Florida  and  for  years 
spent  his  winters  there.  Mr.  Fox  had  for  years  a  large  practice 
and  stood  high  in  his  profession.  He  refused  to  devote  himself 
wholly  to  the  practice  of  law,  however,  and  cultivated  his  love  for 
higher  literature.  He  was  a  wonderfully  companionable  man  and 
had  great  conversational  gifts.  He  was  famous  as  a  fisherman 
and  hunter,  and  was  well  grounded  in  the  history  and  legendary 
lore  of  the  locality.  No  man  had  a  keener  sense  of  the  beautiful 
in  art,  nature  or  language. 

Everett  C.  Banfield  was  a  lawyer  of  legal  attainments  and 
scholarly  tastes.  He  was  at  one  time  U.  S.  counsel  in  the  revenue 
department  at  Washington.  The  latter  portion  of  his  life  was 
spent  in  his  native  town  of  Wolfeborough,  where  he  made  his 
profession  a  secondary  matter.  He  was  elected  state  senator  from 
this  district  and  was  frequently  the  spokesman  for  the  town  on 
public  occasions.  His  family  still  make  their  home  here. 

Many  other  lawyers  have  at  different  times  made  Wolfeborough 
their  home.  The  late  Judge  of  Probate,  David  H.  Hill  resided 
here  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  succeeded  as  Judge  by 
Sewall  W.  Abbott,  who  is  now  in  active  practice  in  the  town.  Oscar 


462 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Ij.  Young,  recently  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  EdwardJE..  Gate  are 
also  practising  here.  James  A.  Edgerly,  a  prominent  lawyer  of 
Somers  worth,  is  a  native  of  the  place. 

Sewall  W.  Abbott  was  born  in  Tuftonborough,  Aug.  n,  1859. 
At  the  age  of  six  years  his  family  removed  to  Center  Ossipee  and 
here  he  remained  until  the  death  of  his  father  in  1872,  when  with 
his  mother  and  a  brother  he  moved  to  Chicago.  He  stayed  west 
about  a  year  and  returning,  attended  school  at  the  Pamworth 
high  school  and  Hebron  (Me.)  academy,  graduating  from  the 
latter  institution  in  '78.  He  entered  Colby  University  the  same 
year,  but  circumstances  prevented  his  completing  the  course.  In 
1879  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Col.  Samuel  S.  Quarles  and  took 
up  telegraphy  as  a  means  of  livelihood.  For  the  three  succeeding 
years  he  was  employed  on  the  northern  division  of  the  B.  &  M. 
railroad.  In  1883  he  graduated  from  the  Union  College  Law 
School  in  Chicago  and  practiced  law  there  about  a  year.  He 
came  to  Wolfeborough  in  June,  1885,  and  soon  opened  an  office 
here,  where  he  has  since  had  a  successful  practice.  He  was  ap- 
pointed Judge  of  Probate  in  1889,  succeeding  the  late  David  H. 
Hill.  Judge  Abbott  is  prominent  in  Masonic  circles,  having  been 
Master  of  Morning  Star  lodge,  District  Grand  Lecturer  and  Dis- 
trict Deputy  Grand  Master.  He  is  a  life  member  of  the  N.  H. 
grand  lodge.  He  is  also  connected  with  numerous  other  fra- 
ternal bodies. 

DOCTORS. 

Wolfeborough  has,  as  a  rule,  been  fortunate  in  its  medical  men. 
Some  of  them  have  become  famous  in  this  and  more  distant 
fields. 

Dr.  A.  R.  Cutter,  one  of  the  proprietors,  although  residing  in 
Portsmouth,  was  sometimes  called  professionally  to  the  town. 
Mrs.  Benjamin  Blake  (Molly  Connor)  possessed  considerable 
medical  skill,  and  became  noted  as  an  obstetrician,  and  practised 


HON.  SEWALL  VV.   ABBOTT 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  463 

in  Wolfeborough  and  neighboring  towns  for  many  years  in  the 
early  times.  She  was  very  successful,  and  is  said  to  have  been 
present  at  nearly  one  thousand  births.  Asa  Adams  came  to 
Wolfeborough  in  1798  and  resided  on  Martin's  Hill  for  several 
years  in  the  house  known  as  the  Eaton  house.  He  removed  to 
Gorham,  Maine.  Dr.  Moses  Hoyt  practised  here  from  1810  for 
a  few  years.  John  McNorton  was  in  practice  here  from  1813 
to  1819.  He  resided  in  the  north  part  of  the  town.  He  died 
about  1819.  Jedidiah  Chapman  practised  medicine  about  the 
same  time  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town.  He  removed  to 
Tuftonborough  in  1819,  where  he  died  in  1850.  Dr.  Chapman 
was  succeeded  by  Asa  Perkins,  whose  residence  was  near  the 
site  of  the  Glendon  Hotel.  Dr.  Perkins  remained  but  a  short 
time.  David  T.  Livy,  from  New  Durham,  was  his  successor  in 
1820,  and  occupied  the  same  house.  Dr.  Livy  died  in  1834, 
and  was  followed  by  Dr.  Jeremiah  F.  Hall,  who  married  his 
daughter  Annette.  Dr.  Hall  was  here  nearly  thirty  years,  then 
removed  to  Portsmouth.  About  1820  Thomas  J.  Tebbetts,  from 
Brookfield,  married  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Ebenezer  Allen,  and 
commenced  the  business  of  physician  at  Dimon's  Corner.  Here 
he  remained  during  his  life,  practising  his  profession,  managing 
a  farm,  doing  considerable  public  business,  and  was  several  times 
elected  to  the  offices  of  selectman  and  representative.  He  had 
a  large  family.  Several  sons  have  been  druggists  ;  one  a  physician. 
Joseph  Edgerly,  a  native  of  New  Durham,  practised  medicine 
in  town  for  several  years.  He  died  in  1840.  Dr.  John  L.  Swiner- 
ton  was  here  in  1831  ;  remaining  but  a  few  years.  John  L.  Sar- 
gent practised  here  several  years.  About  1840  Dr.  Cyrus  Blais- 
dell  established  himself  in  town.  After  some  years  he  removed 
to  Maine,  but  returned  and  located  in  the  northeasterly  part  of  the 
town,  where  he  practised  a  short  time.  Charles  Warren,  a  native 
of  Brookfield  and  a  noted  teacher  of  vocal  music,  followed  Blais- 
dell.  He  was  in  town  several  years,  and  erected  the  house  now 
occupied  by  Joseph  L.  Avery.  During  his  residence  here  Moses 


464 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


R.  Warren  removed  from  Middleton  to  Wolfeborough,  remained 
some  years.  Luther  Pattee  came  from  Rockingham  County 
about  1860,  and  while  on  the  high  tide  of  popular  practice  left 
for  Manchester.  In  1866  Dr.  Abiel  Eliot  practised  here  but  after- 
wards went  to  Philadelphia.  Chase  Moulton  practised  medicine 
from  1860  to  1870,  perhaps  longer.  In  1865  Jeremiah  R.  Smith, 
from  Vermont,  settled  here ;  practised  a  few  years. 

The  late  Jeremiah  Forrest  Hall,  M.  D.,  who  was  for  26  years 
a  prominent  physician  of  Carroll  County,  was  born  at  North- 
field,  N.  H.,  December  2,  1816.  Graduating  from  Dartmouth 
Medical  College  in  1837,  at  the  age  of  21,  he  went  at  once  to 
Wolfeborough,  N.  H.,  to  practice  medicine.  He  succeeded  to  the 
practice  of  Dr.  David  Thurstin  Livy,  then  recently  deceased,  and 
whose  daughter,  Annette  Augusta,  he  married  on  Dec.  14,  1837. 
For  many  years  Dr.  Hall  resided  at  the  Livy  home,  upon  the  site 
now  occupied  by  Hobbs'  Inn,  and  the  fine  old  elms  in  front  of  that 
hostelry  were  set  out  by  Dr.  Hall.  About  1856  he  built  the  house 
now  occupied  by  Charles  F.  Parker,  and  this  was  the  family  home 
until  the  death  of  his  wife  in  1865.  In  1862  he  was  commissioned 
surgeon  of  the  I5th  N.  H.  Vols.  and  went  with  his  Regt.  to 
New  Orleans.  In  1863  he  was  appointed  surgeon  of  the 
Board  of  Enrollment  for  the  ist.  N.  H.  Cong.  Dist.  at  Ports- 
mouth, N.  H.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  entered  upon  the 
practise  of  his  profession  at  Portsmouth,  and  resided  there  until 
his  death,  on  March  i,  1888,  aged  71  years  3  months.  He  prac- 
tised medicine  and  surgery  for  nearly  half  a  century,  and  was 
prominent  in  his  profession  and  in  political,  business  and  banking 
circles.  He  was  an  astute  financier,  and  was  President  of  the 
Ports.  Trust  &  Guar.  Co.  For  twelve  years  he  was  a  trustee  of  the 
New  Hampshire  State  Insane  Asylum.  Was  President  of  the 
New  Hampshire  State  Med.  Soc'y  in  1872 ;  served  two  years  in 
the  New  Hampshire  State  Senate  and  held  many  other  positions 
of  honor  and  trust. 

Dr.  Hall  was  a  man  of  fine  presence  and  strong  personality ; 


DR.  JEREMIAH   F.   HALL 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


a  man  of  great  industry,  strict  integrity  and  business  capacity, 
and  was  noted  for  his  quick  wit  and  sound  philosophy.  He  was 
survived  by  his  three  children,  all  born  at  Wolfeborough :  Susan 
Parsons  Blount,who  now  resides  atWellesley,  Mass. ;  Henry  For- 
rest Hall,  M.  D.,  who  died  at  Coronado,  Calif.,  in  1897 ;  and  Ed- 
ward Hayden  Hall,  who  resides  at  Fort  Collins,  Colo. 

He  was  married  the  second  time  on  October  24,  1872,  to 
Frances  E.  Laighton  of  Portsmouth,  who  also  survives  him,  and 
now  resides  at  Cambridge,  Mass. 

Dr.  Henry  Rust  Parker,  son  of  John  T.  and  Sally  (Seavey) 
Parker,  was  born  in  Wolfeborough,  January  24,  1836.  He 
studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Pattee ;  attended  medical  lectures  at 
Dartmouth,  graduated  in  1865,  commenced  practice  in  his  native 
town,  and  became  a  successful  and  popular  physician.  In  1881 
he  removed  to  Dover. 

Dr.  R.  H.  King,  one  of  Wolfeborough's  most  widely  known 
and  respected  men,  was  born  in  Wakefield,  September  26,  1821. 
He  took  the  classical  course  at  Philips  Academy,  Andover, 
Mass.,  in  1840  and  1844.  He  read  with  Dr  George  B.  Garland, 
of  Lawrence,  Mass.,  and  Dr.  J.  F.  Hall,  of  Wolfeborough,  and 
attended  the  old  Tremont  Medical  School  of  Boston  at  the  sum- 
mer term  of  1845,  and  was  graduated  with  honor  from  Bowdoin 
Medical  College,  Brunswick,  Maine.  He  commenced  practice 
in  Kittery,  Maine,  in  1847,  and  remained  there  about  seven  years, 
when  he  went  to  Newton,  Mass.,  and  subsequently  to  Newark, 
N.  J.  Dr.  King  located  in  Wolfeborough  in  1860,  where  he 
soon  obtained  an  extensive  practice,  and  is  known,  both  in  and 
out  of  the  profession,  as  a  genial  gentleman,  a  skilful  physician 
and  surgeon,  eminently  successful  in  practice.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Carroll  County  Medical  Society,  has  held  the  office  of 
examining  surgeon  from  1868  to  1884,  and  has  been  reappointed 
in  recent  years.  He  is  a  republican  in  politics,  Episcopalian  in 
religious  preference,  but  does  not  belong  to  any  church,  and  is 
a  member  of  the  First  Unitarian  Society  of  Wolfeborough. 


466 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Dr.  N.  Harvey  Scott,  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Margaret  (Har- 
riman)  Scott  was  born  in  Dalton,  March  16,  1851,  fitted  for 
college  at  Lancaster  and  Gorham,  Maine ;  entered  the  academical 
department  of  Dartmouth  College  in  1874;  studied  medicine 
with  Dr.  Albert  Winch,  of  Whitefield,  and  Dr.  J.  L.  Harriman, 
of  Hudson,  Mass.  Attending  medical  lectures  at  Burlington, 
Vermont,  and  Brunswick,  Maine,  he  was  graduated  at  the  latter 
school  in  1874;  then  took  a  course  of  lectures  at  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons,  New  York ;  commenced  practice  at 
Sandwich  in  1875,  removed  to  Maynard,  Mass.,  in  1877,  and 
in  1880  located  at  Wolfeborough.  He  was  appointed  United 
States  examiner  of  pensions  in  President  Arthur's  administration. 
He  married  Lizzie,  daughter  of  Daniel  Moulton,  of  Sandwich, 
and  has  six  children.  Dr.  Scott  is  an  active  member  of  various 
societies — Masons,  Odd  Fellows,  etc.,  and  is  a  deacon  of  the 
Congregationalist  Church  and  a  trustee  of  Brewster  Free 
Academy. 

Dr.  Herman  I.  Berry,  born  in  New  Durham,  December  7,  1855, 
studied  with  Dr.  Parker,  of  Farmington,  attended  medical  lectures 
at  Dartmouth  and  Brunswick,  and  received  his  degree  of  M.  D. 
at  the  Pulty  Medical  School,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  the  spring  of 
1875.  He  began  practice  in  Farmington,  removed  to  Lynn, 
then  to  Acton,  Maine,  and  in  1884  came  to  Wolfeborough  where 
he  now  is  in  active  practice. 

Dr.  S.  P.  Getchell,  a  physician  and  surgeon  of  reputation, 
came  to  Wolfeborough  from  Maiden,  Mass.,  in  1897.  He  served 
as  surgeon  during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  enlisting  in  a  Maine 
regiment  from  Portland,  where  he  was  then  established.  He  is  an 
authority  on  the  history  of  the  war,  and  is  a  gentleman  of  wide 
culture. 

Dr.  Curtis  B.  Cotton  began  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Wolfe- 
borough  some  twelve  years  ago.  He  acquired  hisi  medical  edu- 
cation at  Johns  Hopkins  and  other  well-known  schools  and  has 
a  wide  practice. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  467 

Dr.  Edwin  H.  Thompson  acquired  his  medical  education  at 
Dartmouth  and  Bowdoin  Medical  Schools,  the  New  York  Col- 
lege of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  and  the  New  York  Post  Grad- 
uate School.  He  confines  himself  to  office  practice. 

Dr.  H.  W.  Bradford,  a  prominent  eye  specialist,  has  made  his 
home  here  for  the  past  two  or  three  years,  but  has  not  been  in 
active  practice  on  account  of  poor  health.  Dr.  G.  H.  Clough 
is  also  a  practising  oculist. 

Dr.  Oliver  Dowling  has  practised  dentistry  here  for  many 
years  and  has  had  a  somewhat  active  hand  in  the  town's  affairs. 
He  is  prominent  in  fraternal  circles.  Dr.  Frederick  E.  Header, 
a  native  of  the  town  and  a  graduate  of  Harvard  Dental  School, 
divides  his  time  between  Wolfeborough  and  his  Boston  office. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

MILLS  AND  MANUFACTURING — THE  OLD  TAVERNS — THE  NEWER 
SUMMER  HOTELS — BANKS — EARLY  STORES  AND  TRADERS. 

A  GRISTMILL  was  erected  on  Smith's  River  as  early  as  the 
<«V  spring  of  1771.  This  was  done  by  A.  R.  Cutter  and  David 
Sewall.  Probably  George  Meserve  built  a  sawmill  on  the  same 
stream  in  1769.  Cutter  and  Sewall  no  doubt  improved  the 
sawmill.  They  were  sole  or  part  owners  of  these  mills  for  many 
years.  The  mills  have  been  repeatedly  remodeled  or  rebuilt. 
Among  the  owners  have  been  William  Kent,  Joseph  Kent,  Na- 
thaniel Rogers,  James  Rogers,  Stephen  and  Daniel  Pickering,  John 
M.  Brackett,  William  Thompson,  Moses  Thompson,  Blake  Fol- 
som,  George  W.  Hersey,  Winthrop  D.  Hersey,  Luther  G.  Cate, 
William  C.  Thompson,  Frank  E.  Hersey,  Fred  E.  Hersey,  Mrs. 
E.  G.  Colby,  Mrs.  I.  C.  Thompson,  and  the  O.  P.  Berry  Company. 
The  first  person  who  had  charge  of  the  gristmill  was  Thomas 
Piper.  John  Lucas,  Charles  Stackpole,  Elisha  Goodwin,  Isaac 
C.  Thompson,  John  Patterson,  and  Roscoe  M.  Flanders  have 
been  millers.  At  the  same  falls  are  situated  the  piano-stool  fac- 
tory of  the  late  Lorenzo  Home. 

Existing  debris  shows  that  there  was  once  a  sawmill  on  the 
Wentworth  farm.  A  few  years  after  the  settlement,  Jonathan 
Lary  built  a  sawmill  on  the  largest  tributary  of  Lake  Weat- 
worth.  It  was  first  known  as  Lary's,  then  Triggs',  and  now 
as  Willey's  mill.  In  1818  nineteen  farmers  jointly  built  a  saw- 
mill higher  up  on  the  same  stream,  called  at  first  the  Tebbetts' 
and  afterwards  the  Isaac  Willey  mill.  At  the  same  place  Dudley 
Hardy  had  a  small  gristmill.  On  this  same  stream,  which  is 
the  outlet  of  Batson's  Pond,  there  was  also  at  one  time  a  tannery, 
owned  by  Hezekiah  Willand,  and  a  shop  with  machinery,  owned 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROU&H.  469 

by  Nathaniel  Frost.  Now  Willey's  mill  alone  utilizes  its  water- 
power. 

On  the  Rye-Field  Brook  Dudley  Chamberlin  once  had  a  corn- 
mill.  William  Kent  and  James  Hersey  erected  a  sawmill  on 
the  stream  which  is  the  outlet  of  Sargeant's  Pond,  now  known 
as  the  Hersey  Brook.  This  mill  was  afterwards  rebuilt  by  George 
W.  Hersey.  On  the  same  stream  John  Lucas  had  a  small  grist- 
mill. It  was  located  near  the  present  site  of  the  farmhouse  oc- 
cupied by  George  Tyler.  William  Kent  built  a  sawmill  on  the 
Harvey  Brook,  which  was  subsequently  removed  to  Smith's 
River  upper  falls  by  Paul  H.  Varney,  who  erected  in  1816  a 
woolen  factory.  This  was  burned  in  1841.  On  its  site  Charles 
and  Moses  R.  Warren  erected  a  starch  factory,  which  continued 
in  operation  but  a  few  years.  There  was  also  a  tannery  here. 

The  fall  of  water  on  Mink  Brook,  the  outlet  of  Rust's  Pond 
at  South  Wolfeborough,  exceeds  sixty  feet,  and  at  different  times 
there  has  been  considerable  machinery  on  the  stream :  a  gristmill, 
a  sawmill,  a  shingle-mill,  a  chair  factory,  a  pipe  factory,  a  wool- 
carding  and  cloth-dressing  establishment,  a  tannery,  a  foundry, 
and  a  woolen  factory.  A  large  portion  of  this  property  has 
been  destroyed  by  fire.  The  whole  of  this  water-power  is  not  now 
used.  The  South  Wolfeborough  Blanket  and  Flannel  Manufac- 
turing Company  was  incorporated  in  1861.  The  name  of  the 
corporation  was  afterwards  changed  to  the  Wolfeborough  Woolen 
Mills.  The  factory  building  is  leased  by  Charles  W.  Springfield, 
successor  to  I.  W.  Springfield,  who  employs  seventy-five  help, 
and  makes  forty  thousand  blankets  annually.  Mr.  I.  W.  Spring- 
field ran  this  mill  from  1854  to  January,  1900.  Several  small 
establishments  are  located  on  other  streams,  and  there  have  also 
been  small  tanneries  and  brick-yards  in  various  localities. 

The  Steam  Mill  Company,  established  in  1851  by  Moses  and 
Augustus  Varney,  Alpheus  Swett,  and  Benjamin  Morrison,  be- 
came in  1865  the  property  of  Libbey,  Varney  &  Co.  (Alvah  S. 
Libbey,  Augustus  J.  Varney,  and  Alonzo  Thompson).  Some 


4?o 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


ten  years  ago  Mr.  Thompson  retired  from  the  firm,  and  upon 
the  death  of  Mr.  Libbey  in  1896,  the  business  was  purchased 
by  his  two  sons,  Frederick  S.  and  Edward  J.  Libbey.  Two 
years  ago  the  property  came  into  the  possession  of  Messrs. 
Stephen  W.  Clow  and  Charles  F.  Piper.  The  firm  manufactures 
sawed  lumber  and  box  shook,  and  employs  thirty  men. 

Hersey  Bros.,  whose  names  appear  as  former  owners  of  the 
mills  at  the  falls,  upon  disposing  of  their  plant  to  the  O.  P. 
Berry  Company,  built  a  well-equipped  mill  a  short  distance  away. 
Here  they  manufacture  finish  and  building  material,  and  have 
recently  erected  many  summer  cottages  by  contract.  They  em- 
ploy about  twelve  men. 

The  O.  P.  Berry  Company  operate  an  extensive  excelsior  plant 
and  manufacture  large  quantities  of  oak  handles  of  various  discrip- 
tions.  The  firm  consists  of  Oliver  P.,  George  W.,  Hosea  G., 
and  Albert  O.  Berry.  The  firm  employs  some  fifteen  men. 

Frank  Hutchins  has  for  the  past  fifteen  years  done  a  large 
excelsior  business  and  has  more  recently  added  a  leather  board 
mill  to  his  plant.  The  leather  board  mill  is  at  the  lower  falls, 
and  a  newly  constructed  dam  farther  up  stream  furnishes  power 
for  a  well-equipped  excelsior  plant.  Mr.  Hutchins  employs  fifteen 
men. 

The  Lake  Boot  and  Shoe  Manufacturing  Company  was  in- 
corporated in  1873.  Its  capital  was  limited  to  one  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  by  the  charter  and  fixed  at  forty  thousand  dollars. 
This  concern  did  a  large  business  for  several  years.  The  incor- 
porators  were  John  M.  Brackett,  Moses  Thompson,  C.  W. 
Thurston,  C.  H.  Hersey,  C.  P.  Hasty,  Isaiah  Wiggin,  Charles 
S.  Paris,  Charles  H.  Parker,  William  B.  Rendall,  Alex.  H.  Dur- 
gin,  Joshua  B.  Haines,  I.  B.  Manning,  Moses  T.  Cate,  and  John 
G.  Cate. 

The  first  tanner  was  Moses  Varney.  He  began  business  near 
the  site  of  the  present  bank  building,  but  afterwards  removed 
to  the  place  where  the  Varney  tannery  now  stands,  not  far  from 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


47  i 


Friend  Street.  This  Moses  was  succeeded  in  turn  by  his  son, 
Joseph,  his  grandson,  Moses,  and  his  great-grandson,  William. 
The  property  is  now  used  for  storage  purposes.  Another  of  the 
original  Moses'  grandsons,  Joseph,  has  been  a  leather  manufac- 
turer for  many  years.  For  several  years  he  had  as  a  partner 
his  son-in-law,  George  F.  Symonds.  The  plant  was  located  on 
the  lake  shore  and  has  been  recently  purchased  by  the  Boston 
Excelsior  Company. 

The  Wolfeborough  Steam  Power  Company  was  incorporated 
August  4,  1883,  to  build  a  shoe  factory.  A  building  was  erected 
in  1884  at  an  expense  of  thirty  thousand  dollars.  It  was  intended 
for  two  establishments,  and  was  four  stories  high,  with  a  length 
of  two  hundred  feet  and  a  width  of  thirty-six,  having  two  L's 
thirty-six  by  seventy-five  feet.  J.  M.  Cropley  &  Bro.  and  F. 
W.  and  I.  M.  Monroe,  shoe  manufacturers  of  Marblehead,  Mass., 
became  occupants.  After  the  fire  which  destroyed  it  in  1887, 
the  property  of  the  Steam  Power  Company  was  transferred  to 
the  Wolfeborough  Construction  Company.  This  company  put 
up  a  similar  building  on  the  same  site,  which  is  now  occupied  by 
Spalding  &  Swett,  who  came  from  Haverhill,  Mass. 

About  1781  William  Cotton  opened  a  store  at  the  present 
residence  of  Albert  Cotton.  The  old  storeroom  is  now  a  part 
of  the  family  kitchen.  Samuel  Dimon,  previous  to  1800,  com- 
menced trade  at  Dimon's  Corner  (now  North  Wolfeborough). 
Dimon  also  kept  tavern.  A  few  years  afterward  he  was  succeeded 
by  Aaron  Roberts,  who  remained  in  business  as  a  merchant  and 
tailor  a  long  time.  Pierce  L.  and  Brackett  Wiggin,  brothers, 
and  Augustine  D.  Avery  also  had  stores  there.  Roberts  was 
succeeded  by  Hersey  &  Coleman,  and  they  by  George  J.  Burke. 
Hezekiah  Willand  and  son.  Arthur  J.  Wiiland,  have  been  en- 
gaged in  merchandising  there  for  several  years.  There  have  been 
small  stores  at  Wolfeborough  Centre  at  different  times. 

The  first  store  at  Wolfeborough  Falls  was  opened  by  Nathaniel 
Rogers.  He  may  have  been  succeeded  by  William  Thompson. 


472 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


In  1848  Parker  &  Wiggin  commenced  trade,  and  with  their  suc- 
cessor, H.  B.  Parker,  continued  the  business  more  than  thirty 
years.  Hodge  &  Heath  and  Joseph  P.  Heath  sold  goods  for  a 
score  of  years  or  more.  Colonel  Jonathan  Copp  had  a  store  in 
early  time  at  Kendall's  Corner.  John  W.  Home  traded  there 
for  a  time.  In  later  years,  one  Langley  was  the  local  merchant. 
Bradstreet  Doe  came  to  town  in  1810,  purchased  a  small  farm 
near  Kendall's  Corner,  where  he  manufactured  hats  until  the 
business  became  unprofitable. 

The  first  trader  at  South  Wolfeborough  was  one  of  the  Rust 
family,  Henry  B.  Henry  Rust  Parker  was  in  trade  there  quite 
early.  Henry  B.  Rust  continued  the  longest  time  in  mercantile 
business.  John  W.  Avery  and  several  others  have  dealt  in  mer- 
chandise there. 

The  first  store  at  Smith's  bridge  was  built  by  Andrew  Jewett. 
William  Rogers  came  soon  after.  John  L.  Piper  commenced 
trade  early,  followed  by  Piper  &  Avery.  Richard  Rust  was  an 
early  trader  here ;  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Thomas,  and 
he  by  Rust  &  Farrar.  Smith  &  Crosby  were  also  merchants,  as 
was  James  Pike,  and  later,  John  Barker,  Oilman  Cooper,  and 
many  more.  The  persons  who  continued  in  trade  the  longest 
were  Daniel  Pickering  and  Samuel  Avery.  Mr.  Pickering  com- 
menced business  in  the  building  since  known  as  the  Manning 
House.  About  1830  he  built  a  large  store  at  Pickering's  Corner. 
He  was  the  largest  dealer  in  town.  Mr.  Avery  erected  the  store 
until  recently  occupied  by  Almon  Eaton,  about  1824. 

Taverns  were  quite  common,  but  rather  small  affairs  in  the 
early  settlement.  John  Sinclair  is  said  to  have  had  the  first. 
On  the  main  road  at  different  times  taverns  were  kept  by  James 
Connor,  Widow  Evans,  and  others.  In  1795  Andrew  Jewett 
built  an  inn  at  the  Bridge  village  ;  this  was  a  one-story  building, 
forty  feet  in  length.  After  Jewett's  death,  Richard  Rust  look 
his  widow  and  the  tavern  ;  he  added  one  story  to  the  house,  and 
at  his  demise  was  succeeded  bv  his  son  Thomas,  and  he  in  turn 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  473 

by  several  others.  It  was  once  called  "Jewett's"  then  "Rust's 
Tavern,"  was  for  several  years  the  Lake  Hotel,  and  is  now  the 
Sheridan  House,  W.  E.  Wiggin,  proprietor.  This  was  for  some 
years  the  principal  tavern  in  that  part  of  the  town.  John  Picker- 
ing for  some  years  kept  a  public  house,  occupying  the  premises 
now  owned  by  his  niece,  Mrs.  Charles  Rollins. 

Captain  Moses  Brown  opened  a  tavern  near  the  close  of  the 
last  century,  on  Brown's  Ridge.  It  being  situated  on  one  of  the 
principal  thoroughfares  in  the  easterly  part  of  New  Hampshire, 
he  did  a  flourishing  business,  and  at  his  death  he  left  to  each 
of  his  several  sons  three  thousand  dollars.  The  business  and 
thrift  of  the  establishment  continued  under  the  management  of 
his  widow,  who  was  an  energetic  woman.  One  son,  Adam,  ac- 
cumulated a  large  fortune.  The  old  homestead  is  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Mrs.  F.  P.  Adams,  daughter  of  Adam  Brown. 

James  Pike  had  a  tavern  near  the  present  site  of  the  Bank 
Building.  Colonel  Jonathan  Copj>  kept  tavern  for  many  years 
in  the  large  house  at  Rendall's  Corner,  now  occupied  by  Mr.  '< 
Rendall.  A  hotel  was  kept  for  some  years  at  South  Wolfe- 
borough,  several  different  proprietors  have  had  charge  of  it. 
The  mill-house  at  Wolfeborough  Falls  was  for  years  an  "inn." 
In  1781  William  Cotton  set  up  a  small  tavern  where  his  great- 
grandson,  Albert  Cotton,  now  resides.  About  the  same  time, 
William  Glynn  established  one  near  where  Harry  Smith  lives. 
Afterwards  William  Triggs  had  one  at  the  David  Chamberlain 
place.  Thomas  furnished  "entertainment"  near  Dimon's  Cor- 
ner, as  did  likewise  some  others.  In  1807  Samuel  Wiggin  was 
an  innkeeper. 

The  Pavilion  at  Wolfeborough  village  was  erected  by  a  com- 
pany of  citizens  in  1849  or  T^5O-  It  was  originated  by  Daniel 
Pickering,  and  built  and  furnished  largely  by  him  and  his  son- 
in-law,  Charles  Rollins.  Daniel  Chamberlain  was  the  first  pro- 
prietor, and  gave  it  a  valuable  reputation  as  a  summer  hotel. 
Large  additions  were  made  to  it  later,  and  it  accommodated  two 


474  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 

hundred  and  fifty  guests.  This  building  and  lot  finally  came  into 
the  possession  of  Brewster  Free  Academy.  The  house  was 
razed  and  the  land  graded  and  grassed.  The  only  tangible  evi- 
dence of  the  famous  old  hotel  now  in  existence  is  the  dilapidated 
porte  cocker e,  now  reposing  near  the  corner  of  Lake  Street. 
The  name  of  the  hotel  was  in  recent  years  changed  to  Kings- 
wood  Inn. 

The  Glendon  was  built  by  John  L.  Peavey  and  C.  W.  Thurs- 
ton  in  1874.  It  is  one  of  the  finest  constructed  hotels 
in  the  lake  region,  cost  twenty-nine  thousand  dollars  to  build, 
and  was  opened  for  guests  in  1874.  In  1881  it  passed  into  the 
ownership  of  the  Carroll  County  Savings  Bank.  Afterwards 
it  passed  through  the  hands  of  several  parties,  and  is  now  success- 
fully conducted  as  an  all-the-year  house  by  Frank  P.  Hobbs, 
under  the  name  of  Hobb's  Inn. 

The  Belvue  House  is  the  former  dwelling-house  of  Oilman 
Cooper.  Daniel  Horn,  son  of  James  Horn,  from  Yarmouth, 
Maine,  commenced  hotel  life  in  the  Pavilion  in  1855,  took  charge 
of  the  Winnipesaukee  House  at  Alton  for  three  years  during 
the  Civil  War,  purchased  this  house  of  W.  H.  Jones  in  October, 
1868,  and  opened  it  as  a  hotel.  A  lady  boarder  conversant  with 
European  life,  named  it  the  "Belvue."  The  house  was  enlarged 
in  1872  to  accommodate  seventy-five  guests,  was  popularly  known 
as  "Horn's  on  the  Lake,"  and  commands  a  delightful  view. 
Mr.  Horn  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was  the  oldest  landlord,  in 
point  of  service,  in  town. 

Summer  Boarding-houses. — Glen  Cottage,  Levi  Horn ;  Lake 
View  House,  C.  W.  Oilman ;  Hersey  House,  Mrs.  W.  D.  Her- 
sey;.in  the  village.  Meader  Retreat,  S.  A.  Meader ;  Maple  Cot- 
tage, J.  L.  Wiggin  ;  Piper's  Farmhouse,  J.  W.  Piper ;  Stewart 
House,  H  B.  Stewart ;  Pebble  Cottage,  W.  B.  Fullerton ;  on  the 
main  road  to  Tuftonborough.  Fair  View  House,  S.  N.  Furber ; 
in  Pine  Hill  district.  Highland  Cottage,  J.  L.  Goldsmith  ;  at  the 
Highlands. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


475 


Wolfeborough  Bank  was  organized  under  an  act  of  incorpor- 
ation approved  July  5,  1834,  with  a  capital  of  one  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars.  The  stock  was  mostly  owned  by  New  York  parties, 
although  people  of  Dover  were  interested.  The  directors  were 
Nathaniel  Rogers,  Samuel  Avery,  Joseph  Hanson,  John  P.  Hale, 
Daniel  Pickering,  John  Williams,  Thomas  E.  Sawyer.  Daniel 
Pickering,  was  president ;  Thomas  E.  Sawyer,  cashier. 

A  brick  block  was  constructed  for  its  occupancy  near  Picker- 
ing's Corner,  and  the  strong  vault  built  for  it  is  still  in  use. 
Augustine  D.  Avery  soon  became  cashier,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Thomas  Rust.  This  bank  went  down  in  the  financial  reverses 
succeeding  the  panic  of  1837. 

The  Lake  Bank  was  incorporated  as  a  state  bank  July  15, 
1854,  with  a  capital  of  fifty  thousand  dollars.  The  first  board 
of  directors  was :  John  M.  Brackett,  Daniel  Bassett,  Jr.,  Jeremiah 
F.  Hall,  Eleazer  D.  Barker,  George  W.  Hersey,  George  Rust, 
Thomas  L.  Whitton,  J.  M.  Brackett,  president;  Abel  Haley, 
cashier.  The  bank  began  business  in  November,  1854,  in  the 
Wolfeborough  Bank  building,  and  did  business  there  till  January 
5,  1856,  when  a  committee  was  appointed  to  purchase  the  four 
southerly  rooms  in  the  brick  building  near  the  steamboat  land- 
ing. This  was  done  and  the  bank  removed  there,  where  it  was 
located  until  it  closed  its  existence.  There  was  no  change  in 
president  or  cashier  from  the  first. 

The  Lake  National  Bank,  successor  to  the  Lake  Bank,  char- 
tered for  twenty  years,  was  organized  May  6,  1865,  with  a  capital 
of  seventy-five  thousand  dollars.  Directors :  John  M.  Brackett, 
George  Rust,  Moses  Thompson,  George  W.  Hersey,  Aaron 
Roberts,  Blake  P'olsom,  Otis  Evans,  J.  M.  Brackett,  president; 
Charles  G.  Tibbetts,  cashier.  In  November,  1871,  Charles  F. 
Parker  succeeded  Mr.  Tibbetts  as  cashier,  and  held  the  office 
continuously  until  the  dissolution  of  the  bank.  This  was  brought 
about  principally  through  the  machinations  of  one  W.  E.  Jeweit, 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


of  Lawrence,  Mass.,  who  is  now  serving  a  sentence  in  states  prison 
for  illegal  practices. 

The  Carroll  County  Five  Cents  Savings  Bank  started  out 
under  good  auspices  and  was  well  patronized.  It  was,  however, 
closed  up  after  some  years  of  business  at  a  loss  to  depositors. 

The  Wolfeborough  Savings  Bank  was  organized  July  12, 
1871.  First  officers,  October  29,  1872:  President,  Stephen 
Durgin  ;  vice-president,  Elisha  Goodwin,  Jr. ;  treasurer,  Joseph  L. 
A  very ;  trustees,  Addison  W.  Banfield,  Jethro  R.  Furber,  John 
W.  Sanborn,  Joseph  H.  Bickford,  Charles  G.  Cate,  Jacob  F. 
Brown,  Alphonzo  H.  Rust,  William  C.  Fox,  George  W.  Furber, 
William  H.  Jones,  James  H.  Neal,  Joshua  B.  Haines,  John  M. 
Emerson,  Enos  G.  Whitehouse,  Charles  B.  Edgerly,  Joseph  L. 
Avery.  October  30,  1877,  Ira  Banfield  was  chosen  vice-president 
to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Elisha  Goodwin,  Jr. 
February  16,  1878,  Joseph  L.  Avery  resigned  the  office  of  treas- 
urer, and  Ira  Banfield  was  chosen  treasurer,  holding  the  office 
until  the  bank's  liquidation  a  few  years  since. 

The  banking  business  of  the  town  is  now  satisfactorily  done 
by  the  Wolfeborough  Loan  and  Banking  Company,  established 
in  1889.  The  bank  carries  on  a  general  business,  and  has  a  capital 
stock  of  fifty  thousand  dollars.  The  present  officers  are  John  W. 
Sanborn,  president;  John  L.  Peavey,  vice-president;  Charles  F. 
Piper,  cashier ;  directors,  John  W.  Sanborn,  John  L.  Peavey, 
Charles  H.  Willey,  James  E.  French,  John  H.  Beacham,  Albert 
O.  Robinson,  Robert  H.  Pike,  Simon  Blake,  and  Mayhew  C. 
Clark. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

THE  AVERY  FAMILY — SAMUEL  AVERY'S  CONNECTION  WITH  THE 
OLD  ACADEMY — INCIDENTS  IN  THE  LIFE  OF  HENRY  WILSON 
— THOMPSON  FAMILY — HUGGINS  FAMILY  —  STEVENSON 
FAMILY — DANIEL  PICKERING,  WOLFEBOROUGH'S  LEADING 
CITIZEN — CHARLES  ROLLINS — THOMAS  L.  WHITTON. 

JOSHUA  AVERY  was  born  in  Stratham,  October  23,  1740. 
His  son  Joshua  came  to  Wolfeborough  early  in  the  century, 
went  into  trade  in  company  with  John  L.  Piper,  and  died  here 
in  1805,  aged  twenty-nine  years.  In  1818  Samuel  Avery,  a  son 
of  the  first  Joshua,  came  to  Wolfeborough.  He  purchased  the 
lot  now  occupied  by  Augustine  D.  Avery.  This  land  had  pre- 
viously been  owned  by  Samuel  Leavitt,  John  L.  Piper,  Samuel 
Piper,  and  Joshua  Avery  in  succession. 

Mr.  Avery  at  once  opened  a  store  and  carried  on  several  in- 
dustries. He  continued  in  trade  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
October  5,  1858.  He  served  five  terms  as  town  clerk  and  four 
terms  as  selectman.  After  the  establishment  of  the  Wolfe- 
borough  and  Tuftonborough  Academy  Mr.  Avery  was  accustomed 
to  board  teachers  and  pupils,  and  many  a  lad  was  assisted  in  this 
way  who  would  otherwise  have  found  it  difficult  to  obtain  an 
education.  Vice-President  Henry  Wilson  was  a  member  of  his 
family  while  a  student  at  that  institution.  It  may  not  be  amiss 
to  notice  here  some  facts  in  Wilson's  early  history  which  have 
not  before  been  made  public. 

In  early  life  the  future  statesman  had  little  oportunity  for 
attending  school,  although  he  did  have  access  to  a  good  library 
owned  by  a  gentleman  in  Farmington  village,  which  was  not 
very  far  distant  from  the  farm  on  which  he  worked.  After  the 
severe  labors  of  the  day  he  was  accustomed  to  spend  his  even- 

477 


478  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

ings  in  general  reading,  and  thereby  became  quite  well  versed 
in  history  and  some  other  subjects,  but  in  such  knowledge  as 
is  usually  obtained  in  the  schools  he  was  very  deficient. 

After  closing  the  obligated  term  of  service  with  the  farmer 
with  whom  he  had  spent  his  youth,  he  went  to  Natick  for  the 
purpose  of  working  at  the  brogan  business.  He  remained  there 
for  some  time,  until  he  had  earned  a  small  sum  of  money.  Hav- 
ing a  desire  to  see  the  distinguished  public  men  of  the  country, 
he  visited  the  national  capital  and  returned  to  New  England 
fired  with  an  ambition  to  be  somebody  himself.  Soon  after 
he  came  to  Wolfeborough  and  spent  some  months  at  the 
Academy.  The  following  winter  he  taught  the  district  school 
at  South  Wolfeborough. 

The  next  season  he  concluded  to  attend  a  school  at  Concord, 
N.  H.  Having  a  little  money  on  hand,  he  loaned  a  portion  of 
it  with  an  expectation  of  receiving  it  in  season  to  meet  his  school 
expenses.  When  he  required  it  for  this  purpose,  it  was  not  forth- 
coming. He,  however,  managed  to  square  his  account  at  Con- 
cord, and  started  for  Farmington  with  a  cash  capital  of  ten  cents. 

As  he  acquired  knowledge  he  became  the  more  impressed 
with  the  necessity  of  obtaining  a  more  thorough  education  and 
determined  to  take  a  collegiate  course,  if  he  could  obtain  pecu- 
niary aid.  For  this  purpose  he  visited  several  towns  in  Strafford 
County,  but  found  no  one  willing  to  advance  him  money.  He 
then  came  to  Wolfeborough  and  presented  his  case  to  a  few 
persons  in  the  town,  but  received  no  encouragement.  Finally  he 
came  to  Samuel  Avery.  Mr.  Avery  asked  him  if  he  thought  he 
would  be  able  to  earn  money  enough  as  he  went  through  his 
course  to  purchase  his  clothes  and  books.  Mr.  Wilson  gave 
an  affirmative  answer.  "Then,"  said  Mr.  Avery,  "go  to  my  house 
and  board  until  you  are  prepared  to  enter  college,  and  I  will  see 
you  through."  This  reply  brought  tears  to  the  eyes  of  the  grate- 
ful Wilson. 

Having  previously  made  arrangements  to  take   charge  of  a 


SAMUEL     AVERY 


HISTORY  OF   WOLFEBOROUOH. 


479 


school  for  one  term  at  Natick,  he  went  to  that  place,  expecting 
to  return  to  Wolfeborough  to  enter  upon  a  classical  course  of 
study.  While  there,  however,  a  heated  political  campaign  came 
on,  and  the  speaking  talents  of  the  "Natick  Cobbler"  were 
brought  into  requisition.  He  was  soon  after  elected  a  member 
of  the  Massachusetts  legislature  and  continued  to  advance  in  pub- 
lic life  until  he  died  Vice-President  of  the  United  States. 

Although  circumstances  prevented  Mr.  Wilson  from  availing 
himself  of  Mr.  Avery's  kind  offer,  he  ever  remembered  it,  and 
kept  up  a  close  intimacy  with  the  family.  It  may  not  be  improper 
to  say  that  although  politics  ran  high  at  that  time,  Mr.  Wilson  was 
a  flaming  Whig  and  Mr.  Avery  a  confirmed  Democrat. 

Mr.  Wilson  was  in  great  demand  as  a  public  speaker  and  when 
filling  engagements  within  a  reasonable  distance  of  Wolfeborough 
always  made  his  home  with  Mr.  Avery.  On  one  occasion,  after 
he  had  been  elected  vice-president,  he  was  visiting  his  old  friend, 
and  several  prominent  town's  people  took  occasion  to  pay  their 
respects  to  the  then  famous  man.  Sitting  by  the  window,  he 
looked  out  on  the  old  Academy  building,  then  standing  just  op- 
posite, and,  overcome  with  a  flood  of  reminiscence,  exclaimed  in 
a  broken  voice,  "All  that  I  am,  I  owe  to  Mr.  Avery.  His  en- 
couragement sustained  me  when  I  knew  not  which  way  to  turn." 
The  very  chair  he  sat  in  now  occupies  the  place  it  then  had  in 
Mr.  Augustine  Avery's  sitting-room. 

To  Samuel  Avery  more  than  any  other  man  was  due  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  old  Academy.  Two  hundred  shares  of  stock  of 
ten  dollars  each  were  placed  on  sale.  Only  one  hundred  and  fifty 
were  sold,  and  after  the  building  was  erected  and  covered  in,  in- 
terest in  the  project  flagged.  Mr.  Avery  then  purchased  forty- 
three  of  the  remaining  fifty  shares  and  proceeded  to  finish  the 
hall  and  a  schoolroom.  New  zeal  was  thereby  aroused,  and  the 
Academy  became  at  once  a  success. 

Mr.  Avery's  children  were:  Augustine  D.,  born  Oct.  16,  1814; 
Joseph  L.,  born  Jan.  12,  1817;  Ann  Eliza,  born  Nov.  25,  1819; 


480  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

married  Leander  Thompson,  who  was  for  five  years  a  missionary 
in  Syria  and  has  since  held  several  pastorates  in  Massachusetts, 
died,  Feb.  22,  1901. 

Augustine  D.  Avery  has  been  a  merchant  and  farmer.  He  has 
served  as  town  clerk  twice,  county  commissioner  two  years,  and 
representative  three  times.  Children:  Mary  E.,  born  Nov.  16, 
1855,  died  young;  Dudley  L.,  born  Aug.  u,  1857,  drowned  June 
24,  1874;  Samuel  A.,  born  March  5,  1860  died  young;  Samuel, 
born  March  14,  1862  ;  Belle,  born  March  27,  1866. 

Joseph  L.  Avery  has  been  a  merchant  and  farmer  and  has  held 
the  offices  of  town  clerk  and  treasurer.  He  has  also  been  treasurer 
of  the  Wolfeborough  Savings  Bank.  Children :  Joseph  W.,  born 
Aug.  14,  1867,  died  young;  Joseph  C,  born  June  I,  1874. 

Moses  Thompson,  who  bore  the  same  name  as  his  father,  came 
from  Deerfield  to  Wolfeborough  in  1800.  His  father  had  pre- 
viously taught  school  in  town.  He  settled  in  what  is  now  known 
as  Pleasant  Valley,  then  and  for  many  years  afterward  called 
Raccoon-borough,  possibly  from  Raccoon  Hill  in  the  old  town 
of  Deerfield.  The  settler  Moses  married  Sally  Fox  and  had 
seven  children :  Benjamin  F.,  married  Mary  Brewster  and  Han- 
nah Wiggin  (widow)  ;  William,  married  Nancy  Rogers;  Samuel, 
married  Phoebe  Rogers ;  Hannah ;  Moses,  married  Hannah 
Marble  Rust;  Jane,  married  George  Y.  Furber;  Sarah,  married 
John  M.  Brackett. 

Benjamin  F.  was  one  of  the  leading  men  of  his  time.  He 
farmed  somewhat  extensively,  was  representative  twice  and 
selectman  eight  terms.  His  children,  all  by  his  first  wife,  were : 
Mark  F.,  died  in  Dover ;  Mary  J.,  married  Ivory  Keniston  ;  Sarah 
E.,  married  William  Adams;  Benjamin  B.,  resides  in  Phila- 
delphia ;  John  M.,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  War  and  died  at  Har- 
wood  hospital. 

William  was  a  farmer  and  tanner.  He  also  preached  and  prac- 
tised medicine.  He  possessed  great  energy  and  a  powerful 
physique.  His  children  were  :  Moses,  died  in  the  West ;  Nathaniel 


MCSES    THOMPSON 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  481 

T.,  died  in  Minneapolis ;  William  C.,  has  been  a  hotel-keeper  in 
Lynn  and  manager  of  the  Glendon  Hotel ;  Mary,  died  at  Helena, 
Montana ;  Henry,  lives  West ;  Samuel,  died  young. 

Samuel,  son  of  Moses,  was  a  farmer  and  mechanic.  His  chil- 
dren were  Sarah,  married  John  Tabor ;  Samuel,  lives  in  Boston ; 
Isaac,  married  Nellie  Colby,  Susan,  married  Charles  H.  Guptill; 
William ;  Gertie,  married  John  McGrath,  of  Boston,  Mass. 

Moses  Thompson  3rd  was  born  March  4,  1811.  He  remained 
with  his  father  on  the  farm  until  twenty-one  years  of  age.  His 
education  was  gained  at  the  district  school,  with  a  few  terms  at 
the  Wrolfeborough  and  Tuftonborough  Academy. 

When  he  was  of  age  he  received  five  hundred  dollars  from  his 
father,  who  earned  and  laid  by  that  amount  for  each  son.  This 
money  he  invested  in  hides,  which  he  tanned  in  a  small  tannery 
erected  by  himself  and  brother  Benjamin  on  the  farm.  A  portion 
of  the  leather  he  carried  to  Boston  and  sold,  receiving  his  pay 
in  money  and  hides.  A  portion  of  the  hides  he  cut  into  shoes  and 
hired  made.  These  were  perhaps  the  first  shoes  manufactured 
in  Wolfeborough.  Later  he  carried  on  a  tannery  at  Wolfe- 
borough  Falls  for  Daniel  Pickering.  In  1847  he  moved  to  Wolfe- 
borough  village  and  lived  in  a  house  standing  on  the  lot  now  occu- 
pied by  the  residence  of  Mr.  Blake  Folsom.  He  entered  the  employ 
of  Daniel  Pickering  as  shoe  cutter,  and  later  a  partnership  was 
formed  of  Pickering,  Brackett  &  Thompson  for  the  manufacture 
of  shoes.  In  connection  with  the  shoe  business  they  carried  on 
a  country  store  at  Pickering's  Corner.  This  partnership  con- 
tinued until  the  death  of  Mr.  Pickering. 

In  1856  Mr.  Thompson,  Capt.  Augustus  Walker,  of  Concord, 
and  J.  M.  Brackett  built  the  brick  block  known  as  the  Bank 
Building.  In  this  building,  Thompson  &  Brackett  manufactured 
brogan  shoes  for  the  Southern  trade,  and  Mr.  Thompson  and 
George  Rust  carried  on  the  grocery  business.  In  this  building 
was  also  located  the  State  Bank  and  the  Carroll  County  Five 
Cent  Savings  Bank,  Mr.  Thompson  being  trustee  of  each,  also 


482  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

later  the  president.  He  was  treasurer  of  the  Lake  Boot  and  Shoe 
Co.  For  several  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  marble  business, 
and  later  in  the  mill  and  lumber  business.  All  through  life  he 
was  successful  in  buying  and  selling  real  estate.  Several  of  the 
most  desirable  lots  on  Main  Street  have  passed  through  his  hands. 
Later  in  life  he  laid  out  Pine  Street. 

He  was  a  representative  and  twice  elected  to  the  office  of  select- 
man. He  was  also  connected  with  the  commissary  department 
in  the  late  war.  He  was  ever  interested  in  the  prosperity  of  his 
native  town  and  especially  that  it  should  have  good  roads  and 
excellent  schools.  For  many  years  he  was  trustee  of  the  Wolfe- 
borough  and  Tuftonborough  Academy,  also  trustee  of  the  Chris- 
tian Institute,  and  gave  liberally  towards  its  support.  He  became 
a  Mason  in  1856.  He  was  baptized  by  Elder  Mark  Fernald  in 
1839  and  joined  the  Christian  Church. 

May  7,  1840,  Mr.  Thompson  married  Hannah  M.  Rust, 
daughter  of  William  Rust.  Their  children  are :  William  Rust, 
born  March  4,  1841,  died  May  24,  1865;  Moses  F.,  born  May 
20,  1846,  married  Abbie  H.  Hersey,  Dec.  28,  1870,  died  in  Min- 
neapolis Jan.  23,  1890,  left  two  sons,  Lester  H.  and  Dana  M., 
now  residing  in  Minneapolis ;  Ella  M.,  born  March  20,  1847, 
married  Henry  R.  Parker,  they  have  two  daughters  and  one  son, 
deceased ;  Ada  F.,  born  Dec.  28,  1852,  resides  in  Wolfeborough ; 
Alberta  A.,  born  July  13,  1854,  died  Dec.  20,  1860;  Fred  A.,  born 
Aug.  20,  1857,  resides  in  Denver,  Colorado.  Mr.  Thompson 
died  Dec.  n,  1897. 

Moses  Thompson,  the  son  of  William,  married  Ruth  Ann,  the 
daughter  of  John  Tappan  Parker.  He  died  in  the  West  some 
three  years  since.  His  children  were :  Rolan  P.,  born  Jan.  6, 
1855,  married  Ellen  M.  Brown;  Charles  C,  born  May  12,  1858, 
married  Alice  M.  Parker;  Reta  B.,  born  July  13,  1861,  died 
young;  Xellie  X.,  born  Dec.  13,  1867,  married  Fred  R.  Graves. 

The  Huggins  family  is  of  early  Saxon  origin,  coming  down 
through  centuries  in  England,  and  members  of  it  are  frequently 


SAMUEL  MUGGINS 


HISTORY  OF   WOLFEBOROUGH.  483 

mentioned  in  connection  with  civic  honors  and  positions  of  re- 
sponsibility. The  progenitor  of  the  family  in  New  Hampshire 
was  John  Huggins,  who  came  to  Hampton  in  1640. 

Samuel  Huggins  was  of  the  third  generation  in  this  country. 
His  ancestors  lived  in  Greenland,  N.  H.,  near  what  was  called 
"The  Parade,"  and  what  is  still  called  "Huggins's  Lane"  was 
doubtless  a  part  of  the  original  farm.  His  father,  John  Huggins, 
moved  from  Greenland  to  Wakefield,  and  located  near  Huggins 
Brook  as  early  as  1/90.  Here  he  made  a  home,  having  married 
Anna  Mordough,  of  Wakefield.  In  early  manhood  Samuel  went 
to  Wenham,  Mass.,  to  superintend  farm  work.  In  1817  he  mar- 
ried Sally  L.  Wyatt,  and  they  came  to  Wolfeborough  to  live, 
having  bought  what  was  known  as  the  Deacon  Wormwood  farm 
in  the  east  part  of  the  town.  He  paid  down  one  thousand  dollars 
in  silver  that  he  had  saved  for  the  purpose.  On  this  homestead 
their  ten  children  were  born,  and  here  the  parents  lived,  died, 
and  were  buried,  the  father  reaching  the  age  of  nearly  ninety-two 
years. 

Samuel  Huggins  was  a  man  of  good  physique,  more  than  six 
feet  tall  and  well  proportioned.  He  was  conservative  by  nature ; 
in  politics  he  was  a  Whig  in  earlier  life,  voting  that  ticket  when 
but  nineteen  Whig  votes  were  cast  in  town.  In  later  years  he  was 
a  Republican.  In  religion  he  was  a  Methodist,  and  his  home  was 
always  open  to  the  circuit-rider  as  on  horseback  he  went  through 
the  towns  of  Wolfeborough  and  Tuftonborough.  One  of  the 
strongest  characteristics  of  Mr.  Huggins  was  his  tenderness  of 
heart.  Not  only  the  children  but  every  animal  on  the  farm  knew 
this.  Always  careful  and  exact  in  his  dealings,  he  was  a  thor- 
oughly honest  man. 

Thiee  of  the  sons,  Nathaniel,  John  P.,  and  Samuel  J.,  have  been 
successful  hotel-keepers.  The  Cosmopolitan  Hotel  in  New  York 
City  is  owned  by  them.  Elizabeth  G.  Huggins,  their  eldest 
daughter,  married  Charles  Remick.  Of  their  five  children  but 
one  survives,  Lydia  F.,  wife  of  Joseph  WT.  Chadwick,  of  Maiden, 


484  HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Mass.  The  two  sons  of  Nathaniel  Huggins  were  educated  at 
Lafayette  College.  Of  the  grandchildren  of  Samuel  Huggins  but 
one  other  survives,  Almon  W.  Eaton,  of  Wolfeborough.  There 
are  only  three  great-grandchildren,  Grace  E.  Douglas  of  Ames- 
bury,  Mass.,  and  the  two  children  of  George  L.  Huggins  of  New 
York  City. 

Of  the  ten  children  of  Samuel  Huggins  there  are  now  living, 
John  P.,  of  New  York  City,  Samuel  J.,  of  New  York  City,  Mrs. 
Sally  A.  Eaton,  of  Wolfeborough,  and  Mrs.  Mary  R.  Martin,  wife 
of  James  H.  Martin,  of  Wolfeborough. 

John  P.  Huggins  is  a  worthy  example  of  the  self-made  man. 
He  was  born  at  Wolfeborough,  May  2,  1826.  He  came  to  in- 
dustrious ancestors,  and  was  a  worker  from  very  early  years,  as- 
sisting his  father  on  the  farm.  He  attended  the  district  school 
winters,  and  had  the  advantage  of  Wolfeborough  and  Tufton- 
borough  Academy  for  several  terms.  The  common  school  of  a 
few  months  in  each  year  for  the  practical  business  life  of  New 
England  in  that  period  did  its  work  well.  At  the  age  of  eighteen 
Mr.  Huggins  went  to  Boston,  where  he  remained  one  year  as 
clerk  at  the  Bromfield  House,  and  returning  to  Wolfeborough 
was  a  pupil  of  the  academy  for  six  months.  He  was  then  at 
Dartmouth  Hotel,  Hanover,  as  clerk  for  one  year.  From  there 
he  went  to  Lowell,  Mass.,  where  he  was  with  Henry  Emory  at  the 
Merrimac  House  for  two  years  as  bookkeeper.  In  1852  Mr.  Hug- 
gins  removed  to  New  York  City,  where  he  has  since  been  a  resident 
and  prominent  man  in  many  directions.  He  was  at  first  employed 
as  clerk  in  Love.joy's  Hotel  on  Park  Row,  but  the  following  year 
he  purchased  the  interest  of  the  proprietors,  Libbey  &  Whitney, 
and  continued  the  hotel  business  there  for  twenty  years  satis- 
factorily and  successfully.  He  then,  with  his  brothers,  Nathaniel 
and  Samuel  J.,  bought  the  property  of  the  Cosmopolitan  Hotel, 
corner  of  Chambers  Street  and  West  Broadway,  and  they  have 
conducted  it  since  that  time. 

Mr.  Huggins,  however,  has  had  other  outlets  for  the  exercise 


JO'-'N   P.   MUGGINS 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  485 

of  his  business  acumen  and  financial  ability,  and  many  enterprises 
and  undertakings  have  been  promoted  by  his  interest  in  them. 
He  was  at  one  time  president  of  the  Metropolitan  Gas  Light  Com- 
pany, and  for  many  years  a  director ;  is  now  a  director  of  the 
Consolidated  Gas  Light  Company,  also  of  several  banks  and 
savings  institutions  of  New  York  City ;  of  the  Citizens'  Gas  Light 
Company  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  and  a  director  of  the  Lake  National 
Bank  of  Wolfeborough,  and  at  one  time  its  vice-president.  He 
has  been  on  the  board  of  education  of  New  York  City  for  more 
than  thirty  years.  In  all  these  manifold  activities  Mr.  Huggins 
has  shown  a  thorough  adaptability  and  a  remarkable  discernment, 
and  has  proved  himself  a  natural  financier.  Politically  he  has  al- 
ways been  a  Republican. 

But  there  are  other  phases  of  Mr.  Huggins'  character  worthy  of 
record.  The  unostentatious  manner  in  which  he  has  used  his 
wealth  ;  the  warm  interest  he  has  ever  manifested  in  his  birth- 
place ;  the  patient  industry  that  characterized  his  early  manhood ; 
the  persevering  energy  which  he  evinced  when  he  entered  upon 
active  business  life  ;  his  kindness  and  affection  in  all  his  family 
relations,  and  the  genial  spirit  of  his  social  life  have  made  him 
warm  friends  in  the  city  of  his  adoption  and  the  town  of  his 
nativity.  One  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Wolfeborough  says  of 
him:  ''By  honesty,  industry,  sobriety,  and  ability,  backed  by 
perseverance,  he  won  his  way  step  by  step.  He  always  mani- 
fested a  great  interest  in  adding  to  the  comforts  of  the  family, 
making  large  additions  to  the  old  homestead  farm  in  the  life- 
time of  his  parents,  and  never  counting  dollars  or  cents  in  im- 
proving and  caring  for  the  welfare  of  his  sisters.  He  has  marked 
financial  ability  and  honesty,  always  despising  trickery  and  fraud  ; 
is  a  social,  genial  friend,  plain  and  honest  spoken,  and  an  honor 
ot  his  native  town." 

Joseph,  the  grandfather  of  Thomas  Stevenson,  came  from 
Yorkshire,  England,  and  settled  on  the  Isles  of  Shoals.  His  son 
Joseph  settled  in  Durham,  where  he  married  a  wife  who  bore  him 


486 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


two  sons  and  two  daughters.  Upon  her  decease  he  married  a 
widow  who  had  two  sons  and  two  daughters  by  a  former  husband. 
The  only  symmetrical  result  of  such  a  union  (and  one  that  actually 
came  about)  was  that  two  sons  and  two  daughters  should  be  born. 
Thomas,  the  Wolfeborough  settler,  was  one  of  this  third  crop  of 
sons.  When  a  young  man,  he  came  to  Brookfield,  where  he 
taught  school.  He  afterwards  pursued  the  same  vocation  in 
Wolfeborough.  He  married,  about  1800,  Sarah  Johnson,  of 
Brookfield  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  grandson, 
Albert  J.  Stevenson.  He  served  as  selectman  and  town  clerk  for 
several  terms  and  was  a  useful  citizen  in  various  lines. 

His  son  Samuel,  now  the  oldest  man  in  town  (aged  nearly 
ninety-one  years),  has  served  as  selectman,  and  his  son  James 
has  held  various  town  offices. 

Joseph,  another  son  of  Thomas,  was  a  mason  and  farmer  as  is 
his  son  Albert  J.  Henry  J.,  son  of  Joseph,  is  a  prominent  citizen 
of  East  Boston,  following  the  business  of  contractor.  He  has 
represented  his  district  in  the  Massachusetts  Legislature.  His 
family  have  a  summer  home  on  the  old  farm. 

William  Goldsmith  came  from  Salem,  Mass.,  to  work  on  the 
governor's  farm.  He  settled  on  the  Frost  road.  His  son,  Joshua 
H.,  had  fifty  acres  of  a  nearby  lot  and  here  reared  two  children, 
John  L.,  born  October  24,  1826,  who  now  occupies  the  farm  now 
known  as  Goldsmith  Heights,  and  Mary  E.,  born  January  18, 
1826,  who  married  Ellis  Upton,  of  Washington,  D.  C.  Leavitt 
C.,  the  only  son  of  John  L.,  lives  with  his  father. 

Daniel  Pickering,  son  of  William  and  Abigail  (Fabyan)  Pick- 
ering, was  born  in  Greenland,  N.  H.,  November  22,  1795,  where 
his  early  life  was  passed.  He  acquired  a  good  education  at 
Brackett  Academy  in  Greenland  and  Philips  Exeter  Academy. 
On  arriving  at  maturity  he  came  to  Wolfeborough  and  im- 
mediately engaged  in  merchandising.  He  was  very  successful 
and  soon  erected  the  store  at  Pickering's  Corner,  continuing  in 
business  as  a  merchant  for  thirty-five  years.  At  one  time  he  had 


DANIEL  PICKERING 


HISTORY   OF   WOLFEBOROVGH.  487 

three  stores  in  active  operation,  that  at  Wolfeborough  village, 
one  at  Goose  Corner,  and  another  at  Tuftonborough.  About  1840 
he  formed  a  co-partnership  with  John  M.  Brackett,  Ira  P.  Nudd, 
and  Moses  Thompson  to  manufacture  shoes  for  Boston  parties  in 
connection  with  merchandising.  The  amount  of  business  trans- 
acted by  Mr.  Pickering  as  a  merchant  was  unusually  large  for  the 
times,  and  he  was  also  connected  with  every  branch  of  com- 
mercial activity  in  Wolfeborough.  He  carried  on  the  manufac- 
ture of  brick  on  a  large  scale.  He  founded  and  was  a  large  owner 
of  the  stock  of  the  Pickering  Manufacturing  Co.,  whose  woolen 
and  satinet  mills  were  located  at  Wolfeborough  Falls.  He  pur- 
chased large  tracts  of  timber  and  carried  on  extensive  lumbering 
operations,  was  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  Wolfeborough 
Bank,  and  its  president,  and  one  of  the  stock  company  that  built 
the  steamer  "Lady  of  the  Lake."  He,  with  his  son-in-law,  Charles 
Rollins,  were  the  prime  movers  in  the  erection  of  the  Pavilion 
Hotel. 

In  1820  Mr.  Pickering  was  one  of  the  three  persons  mentioned 
in  the  act  of  incorporation  of  the  Wolfeborough  and  Tufton- 
borough Academy.  The  council  that  organized  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  met  at  his  house,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  among 
the  twelve  first  members.  He  also  gave  the  lot  on  which  the 
church  stands  to  the  Congregational  Society,  to  be  held  as  long 
as  it  should  be  used  for  church  purposes.  Mr.  Pickering  married, 
June  20,  1822,  Sarah  C.,  daughter  of  Joseph  Farrar,  of  Wolfe- 
borough. 

In  person  Mr.  Pickering  was  somewhat  above  medium  size, 
with  dark  hair  and  eyes,  and  while  quiet  and  a  man  of  few  words 
in  business,  was  very  pleasant  and  social  in  society.  An  "old 
line''  Whig  in  politics,  he  was  postmaster  for  many  years  through 
various  administrations.  He  died  very  suddenly  February  14, 
1856.  Mr.  Pickering  was  the  foremost  citizen  of  his  time  in 
Wolfeborough.  That  his  memory  lasts  is  shown  by  the  designa- 
tions, "Pickering's  Corner"  and  "Pickering  School." 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Charles  Rollins  was  born  at  Somersworth,  N.  H.,  May  30,  1812, 
being  a  descendant  of  James  Rollins,  who  emigrated  to  America 
in  1632  with  the  settlers  at  Ipswich,  Mass.,  and  in  about  1642  he 
received  a  grant  of  land  at  Dover,  N.  H.,  where  he  permanently 
settled.  Mr.  Rollins  came  to  Boston  when  quite  a  young  man 
and  engaged  in  the  business  of  contractor  and  builder,  which  he 
carried  on  with  great  success  until  1870.  Many  fine  buildings 
were  the  result  of  his  labors,  among  them  being  the  Central 
Congregational  Church  on  Berkeley  Street  and  the  Adams  House 
on  Washington  Street. 

Mr.  Rollins  was  greatly  interested,  when  a  young  man,  in 
politics.  A  strong  Republican,  he  declined  to  hold  any  public 
offices,  although  offered  a  number  at  different  times  in  the  city 
government,  devoting  nearly  all  his  time  to  his  business.  In 
1849,  with  Daniel  Pickering,  he  erected  the  Pavilion  Hotel  and 
continued  as  its  owner  until  his  death.  Mr.  Rollins  was  always 
interested  in  the  welfare  and  progress  of  Wolfeborough.  He 
married  Caroline  Dana  Pickering,  daughter  of  Daniel  Pickering, 
January  u,  1848.  Mr.  Rollins  died  very  suddenly  at  his  home  on 
Commonwealth  Avenue,  in  Boston,  March  4,  1897. 

Mr.  Rollins  yearly  visited  Wolfeborough  and  his  family  still 
occupy  as  a  summer  home  the  handsome  estate,  formerly  the 
Pickering  tavern,  on  Main  Street. 

Thomas  Lupton  Whitton,  son  of  George  and  Esther  (Copp) 
Whitton  was  born  in  Wakefield,  August  8,  1811.  On  his  paternal 
side  he  descends  from  a  noted  family  in  Yorkshire,  England,  his 
father  emigrating  to  this  country  when  he  was  entering  man's 
estate,  about  1800.  His  sister  Margaret  was  the  wife  of  Daniel 
Raynard,  Esq.,  who  became  owner  of  the  Wentworth  nvjn>ion 
and  surrounding  farm.  George  Whitton  visited  this  farm  and 
purchased  one  hundred  acres  of  land  nearby,  but  did  not  occupy 
it,  as  he  had  became  acquainted  with  the  family  of  Captain  David 
Copp,  of  Wakefield,  and  marrying  his  daughter  Esther,  lie  settled 
in  that  town  as  innkeeper  and  farmer.  About  1826  Mr.  Whitton 


CHARLES    RCLLINS 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  489 

removed  to  Wolfeborough  and  made  his  home  on  that  part  of 
the  governor's  farm  he  had  purchased  so  long-  before.  Here  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  December,  17,  1852.  His 
wife  survived  him,  dying  September  5,  1857.  George  Whitton  was 
a  man  of  fine  proportions,  six  feet  in  height,  energetic,  and 
possessed  of  rare  good  judgment  in  practical  matters.  He  was 
an  "old  line"  Democrat.  His  wife  possessed  a  large  amount  of 
that  energy,  capability,  and  attractiveness  so  characteristic  of  the 
best  New  England  women  of  that  period,  and  her  home  was  a 
model  one.  They  had  three  children,  George  Washington, 
Thomas  L.,  and  David  Copp. 

Thomas  L.  Whitton  had  common  school  and  academic  educa- 
tion. He  married  Sally,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  and  Elizabeth 
(Page)  Morse,  of  Kingston,  where  she  was  born  June  29,  1812, 
and  settled  as  a  farmer  near  his  father,  and  finally  purchased  the 
homestead,  which  he  still  occupies.  He  has  been  largely  in- 
terested in  raising,  buying,  and  selling  cattle,  and  his  business 
has  been  purely  agricultural  through  life,  except  that  in  early  life 
he  was  for  some  terms  a  successful  school-teacher.  Mr.  Whitton 
inherited  many  qualities  from  his  mother,  and  has  for  long  years 
been  a  most  valuable  citizen,  popular  with  the  people,  and  one 
of  Wolfeborough's  representative  men.  He  has  been  moderator 
ten  times,  selectman  nine  times,  representative  four  times,  member 
of  the  governor's  council  twice,  and  twice  delegate  to  constitu- 
tional conventions.  Originally  a  Democrat,  he  was  one  of  the 
earliest  Free-soil  men,  and  has  been  a  Republican  from  the  or- 
ganization of  the  party,  and  one  of  its  most  faithful  and  successful 
workers.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church 
from  early  manhood,  and  a  Freemason  for  many  years.  His 
public  duties  were  ever  discharged  with  conscientiousness,  and  his 
private  life  has  been  marked  by  warm  social  feelings  and  quiet 
unobtrnsiveness.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitton  have  four  surviving 
children,  Charles  A.,  Oscar  F.,  David  E.,  William  M.  Charles 
A.  married  Annie  E.  Prescott.  She  died  April  6,  1889.  Their 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


children  are  Anietta  Lilian,  married  Irving  Oilman  ;  Abbie  Anna, 
Ellie  B.,  Oscar  F.,  married  Clarissa  Blake  ;  children  :  Sarah  M., 
married  Frederick  E.  Header;  Esther  C.,  Clara  L.  and  Dorothy 
B.  David  E.,  married  Annetta  A.  Tibbetts,  who  died  Dec.  n, 
1875,  they  had  one  son,  Thomas  Edwin,  who  died  April  24,  1896; 
William  M.,  married  Susan  Haines. 

The  Remick  family  are  of  German  origin,  the  name  being  cor- 
rectly spelt  Remich,  and  they  originally  lived  upon  the  Moselle 
River.  Christian  Remick  came  to  this  country  prior  to  1652,  and 
settled  upon  the  shore  of  the  Piscataqua  River  in  Kittery,  Me., 
about  a  mile  from  Portsmouth  bridge.  The  homestead  has  al- 
ways remained  in  the  Remick  name  until  very  recently. 

Charles  Remick,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Kittery, 
Me.,  May  12,  1815.  He  was  the  son  of  Josiah  and  Lydia  (Fer- 
nald)  Remick.  His  father  died  when  he  was  ten  years  old.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  he  came  to  North  Wolfeborough  to  learn  the  car- 
penter's trade,  and  served  three  years  as  an  apprentice  :  beginning 
life  at  the  end  of  this  time  with  the  capital  of  a  new  suit  of  home- 
spun. a  rule,  a  jack-knife  and  a  thorough  knowledge  of  his  trade. 
He  married  Elizabeth  G.  Huggins  of  East  Wolfeborough.  They 
made  a  home  at  Xorth  Wolfeborough,  and  here  united  with  the 
Methodist  church,  where  he  became  leader  of  a  choir  of  thirty 
young  persons.  Later,  when  living  in  Boston,  he  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Tremont  St.  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  that 
city. 

In  1848  Mr.  Remick  returned  to  Xew  Hampshire,  and 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  at  Wolfeborough 
Falls.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Free  Baptist  church  of  this  place  until  their  death, 
and  always  contributed  liberally  to  its  support.  As  a 
mechanic,  he  excelled  ;  and  many  of  the  best  buildings  in  Car- 
roll County  were  erected  under  his  supervision.  During  the  civil 
war  he  was  a  quarter-master  in  the  Portsmouth  Xavy  Yard. 

The  one  great  delight  of  his  life  was  music,  and  he  had  been 


CHARLES    REMICK 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  491 

chorister  thirty-one  years  when  age  compelled  him  to  drop  the 
work.  His  struggle  to  introduce  into  church  service  instru- 
mental music,  the  first  of  the  kind  in  town,  is  one  of  the  most 
amusing  matters  connected  with  local  history. 

He  was  a  man  of  deep  convictions  and  pronounced  opinions. 
He  early  became  interested  in  national  politics,  and  threw  one  of 
the  first  free-soil  votes  cast  in  Wolfeborough.  He  was  a  strong  ad- 
vocate of  temperance,  and  an  avowed  prohibitionist.  He  died 
July  2,  1890.  Children:  Lydia  F.,  married  Joseph  W.  Chadwick  ; 
Adelia  A.,  married  Wm.  B.  Hodge :  Marietta,  married  Rev.  J. 
Frank  Locke :  Everett  H. ;  Everett.  Of  these  only  the  eldest 
survives. 

Alpheus  Swett,  who  was  born  in  Alfred,  Me.,  in  1798,  married 
Susan  Rogers  of  Wolfeborough.  Mr.  Swett  farmed  for  some 
years  on  Tuftonborough  Neck  and  in  1849  removed  to  the  Rogers 
farm  in  Wolfeborough  village,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  in 
1884.  After  coming  to  Wolfeborough,  Mr.  Swett  engaged  in 
farming  and,  to  some  extent,  in  steamboating  on  the  lake.  He 
held  several  town  offices  in  Tuftonborough  and  was  known  far 
and  wide  as  a  man  of  probity  and  high  character. 

Children:  Eli  C.,  born  Nov.  2,  1826,  married  Sarah  M.  Hersey 
of  Tuftonborough  ;  William  T.,  married  Kate  Gray  of  Michigan, 
went  west:  Charles,  died  young;  John  R.,  married  Mary  Brown 
of  Tuftonborough. 

Eli  C.  has  been  a  farmer  and  has  had  an  active  hand  in  lake 
navigation.  He  is  referred  to  in  the  chapter  on  that  subject. 
Children :  Ella  J.,  married  Fred  Stevens  of  Union ;  Etta  M., 
married  Fred  L.  Melcher  of  Brunswick,  Me. :  Wilbra  H.,  married 
Priscilla  Stearns  of  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

John  R.  lived  in  Wolfeborough  for  several  years  and  was  en- 
gaged in  steamboating.  He  now  resides  in  Ossipee. 

Wilbra  H.,  the  son  of  Eli  C.,  left  home  in  the  early  '8o's, 
and  farmed  a  claim  he  had  taken  up  in  Mitchell,  South  Dakota. 
In  1889  he  went  to  Bntte,  Montana,  and  entered  the  employ  of 


HISTORY   OF   WOLFEBOROUGH. 

the  management  of  the  Anaconda  and  Butte  and  Boston  Copper 
mines.  He  served  in  the  state  legislature  two  terms  and  in  1900 
came  back  to  his  old  home.  He  is  now  engaged  in  the  hardware 
business  here. 

Joseph  Lewando  was  born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  Dec.  3,  1850, 
and  is  the  son  of  Adolph  and  Emily  (Smith)  Lewando.  He  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  the  Chauncy  Hall  School,  Boston, 
and  at  the  Highland  Military  Academy  in  Worcester,  Mass.,  and 
attended  the  chemical  department  of  the  Lawrence  Scientific 
School  at  Cambridge  during  the  years  1869  and  1870.  His  father 
had  established  at  Watertown,  Mass.,  the  Lewando  Dye  Works, 
for  the  supervision  and  charge  of  which  the  son  was  trained.  In 
1870  he  took  charge  and  held  the  position  for  five  years,  when 
the  business  not  being  to  his  liking,  he  removed  to  Mt.  Tabor, 
Oregon,  where  he  engaged  in  general  merchandise  for  eight 
years. 

In  1883  he  returned  east  and  settled  inWolfeborough — his  wife's 
native  town — where  he  conducts  a  general  mercantile  business. 
He  was  for  three  years  in  the  New  Hampshire  National  Guard 
as  Captain  of  Company  K.,  Third  Regiment,  and  a  member  of 
the  State  Legislature  in  1897  and  1899,  serving  in  1897  as  chair- 
man of  the  Committee  on  Mileage  and  as  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Banks,  and  in  1899  as  chairman  of  the  Committee  on 
Military  affairs.  He  was  Alternate  to  the  National  Republican 
Convention  at  Minneapolis  in  1892.  and  during  the  past  fifteen 
years  has  held  various  offices  in  his  adopted  town.  He  is  a 
member  of  Morning  Star  Lodge,  of  Masons,  of  Carroll  Chapter, 
Royal  Arch  Masons,  and  of  St.  Paul  Commandery,  Knights 
Templar,  of  Dover,  N.  H.  Mr.  Lewando  was  married  Septem- 
ber loth.  1875.  to  Nellie  T.  Morgan  They  have  two  children: 
Alice  C.  and  Dolph. 


THOMAS   L.   WHITTON 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

CASUALTIES  AND  FIRES — WILLIAM  FULLERTON  DROWNED  THE 
YEAR  THE  TOWN  WAS  INCORPORATED — NUMEROUS  DROWN- 
ING ACCIDENTS — THE  VARNEY  AND  JEROME  TRAGEDIES — 
HENRY  RUST'S  BOYS  BURNED  OUT — THE  SOUTH  WOLFE- 
BOROUGH  FIRES — THE  BIG  FIRE  OF  1887 — INCENDIARISM 
—LAST  DISASTROUS  FIRE. 

IN  1768  William  Fullerton  was  drowned  in  Smith  River. 
Eleanor  Hawkins  was  drowned  in  1802.  July  12,  1819,  Mrs. 
Deborah  Brown  was  killed  by  lightning.  A  babe  on  her  breast 
was  uninjured.  In  1824  James  Cate,  while  assisting  in  butcher- 
ing, fell  into  a  tub  of  hot  water  and  was  scalded  to  death.  Decem- 
ber 21,  1826,  a  daughter  of  Paul  H.  Varney  was  drowned  in 
Crooked  Pond  while  on  her  way  to  school.  John  Judkinswas  killed 
by  his  son  about  1830.  In  1833  Stephen  Giles  was  killed  by  the 
kick  of  a  horse.  A  strange  premonition  of  this  was  felt  by  Rev. 
Hiram  Holmes  on  the  Sabbath  preceding.  Mr.  Giles  was  in  his 
congregation  in  the  morning  and  Mr.  Holmes  said  that  he  was 
impressed  that  a  person  then  present  would  die  during  the  week. 
This  he  repeated  with  greater  conviction  during  the  afternoon.  In 
1802,  Joshua  Rust,  son  of  Richard  Rust,  six  years  old,  was  thrown 
from  a  horse  against  the  door-stone  of  his  fathers  house,  killing 
him.  About  1840  Aaron  Frost  was  drowned  while  crossing  a 
flooded  meadow.  About  the  same  year  Samuel  Young  died  from 
exposure  on  a  cold  night.  December  26,  1840,  David,  son  of 
Dr.  David  T.  Livy,  eight  years  old,  broke  through  the  ice  in 
Lake  Winnipesaukee  and  was  drowned.  Jesse  Nute  was  found 
dead  in  the  road  in  1841.  In  1845  a  child  of  Robert  Estes  fell  into 
a  vessel  of  hot  water  and  was  scalded  to  death.  August  10,  1846, 
a  boat  was  capsized  near  Clark's  sands,  in  Wolfeborough  Bay, 

493 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

and  A.  Brewer,  of  Boston,  aged  twenty,  S.  T.  Perry,  of  New 
Durham,  aged  seventeen,  and  Everett  Huggins,  of  Wolfeborough, 
aged  nine,  were  drowned.  In  1855  Dexter  May,  ten  years,  was 
kicked  to  death  by  a  horse.  April  1.0,  1857,  William  Fullerton, 
aged  fifty-eight,  was  drowned  in  Lake  Winnipesaukee.  March 
15,  1860,  a  cannon  burst,  killing  Joseph  Garland,  seventeen,  and 
Everett  Warren,  fifteen.  December  27,  1861,  Mark  A.  Lucas 
perished  from  exposure.  March  12,  1862,  Deacon  Richard  Bick- 
ford,  aged  seventy-eight,  was  crushed  to  death  by  a  heavily  loaded 
wagon  that  he  was  driving.  December  21,  1863,  a  child  of  Charles 
F.  Chase  was  so  scalded  that  death  resulted.  August,  1868,  Wril- 
liam  J.  Tilden,  of  Lawrence,  Mass.,  was  thrown  from  a  carriage 
and  soon  died.  December  18,  1870,  Benjamin  Kimball  was  skat- 
ing to  Pleasant  Valley  to  attend  a  baptism,  when  the  ice  broke 
and  he  was  drowned.  February  i,  1871,  Samuel  Jones  was  killed 
by  the  kick  of  a  colt.  March  13,  1874,  Charles  W.  Varney,  an 
active  business  man,  twenty-eight  years  old,  and  George  Stewart, 
a  hired  man,  started  to  cross  the  lake  to  Alton  and  were  never 
seen  thereafter.  Their  horse  and  sleigh  floated  ashore  in  July. 
They  were  doubtless  drowned,  though  divers  searched  for  their 
bodies  in  vain.  June  24,  1874,  Dudley  L.  Avery,  son  of  Augus- 
tine D.  Avery,  aged  sixteen,  was  drowned  near  Wolfeborough 
Neck.  September  12,  1874,  Miss  Fannie  Home,  aged  seventy, 
was  burned  to  death  by  her  clothes  taking  fire.  October  16, 

1874,  Joseph  Hayes,  sixty-five,  was  crushed  so  that  he  died  the 
same  day,  by  a  building  he  was  assisting  in  moving.     July  14, 

1875,  Freddie,  son  of  Daniel  Delancl,  aged  eight  years,  and  an- 
other boy  of  nearly  the  same  age  were  drowned  in  the  inner  bay. 
Willie,  a  son  of  J.  R.  Duncan,  was  drowned  in  the  lake  May  8, 
1878. 

August  28,  1875,  Lettie,  a  seven-year-old  daughter  of  Rev.  A. 
D.  Fairbanks,  fell  into  a  cellar,  receiving  injuries  from  which  she 
died  two  days  later.  April  6,  1879,  Bertie,  son  of  Arthur  P. 
Young,  a  lad  of  four  years,  broke  through  the  ice  in  the  bay  near 


ALPHEUS   S7/ETT 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  495 

the  mill  at  Wolfeborough  Falls  and  was  drowned.  Dec.  15,  1877, 
a  daughter  of  James  Bresnehan  fell  into  a  kettle  of  hot  water  and 
soon  died.  December  22,  1877,  Daniel  Wentworth,  aged  seven- 
teen, was  drowned  while  trying  to  skate  across  Lake  Wentworth 
in  the  night.  May  28,  1886,  Rev.  Theodore  Jerome  and  his  three 
children,  Paul  aged  eleven,  Kate,  aged  nine,  and  Bernard,  aged 
six,  and  Theodore  Davis,  aged  nineteen,  were  drowned  within 
'  two  miles  of  the  village.  This  was  a  strange  and  unexplainable 
accident.  The  day  was  calm ;  Mr.  Jerome  and  Davis  were  expert 
swimmers ;  their  boat  was  found  quite  near  an  island,  while  the 
bodies  were  not  far  off,  in  water  of  no  great  depth,  and  not  far 
apart  from  each  other.  April  25,  1887,  Ira  Hanson,  aged  thirty- 
three,  fell  and  broke  his  neck  while  walking.  July  13,  1887, 
Thomas  Geary,  of  Rochester,  was  drowned  in  Rust's  Pond  while 
bathing.  Charles  Harriman  committed  suicide  by  taking  poison 
July  24,  1890.  James  W.  Drew,  a  section  hand  on  the  railroad, 
was  struck  by  a  wild  engine,  September  26,  1890,  and  received 
injuries  from  which  he  died  the  next  day.  May  21,  1897,  William 
C.  Fox,  Esq.  and  his  son  John  W.,  were  capsized  while  fishing 
near  Mud  Island,  Lake  Winnipesaukee.  The  son  managed  to 
reach  the  shore,  but  Mr.  Fox  was  drowned.  The  body  was  re- 
covered on  the  following  day.  April  29,  1900,  Frank  P.  Tracy 
and  Henry  H.  Archer  were  drowned  while  fishing  in  Lake  Win- 
nipesaukee. Notwithstanding  a  most  thorough  searcn  extending 
over  several  weeks,  the  bodies  were  never  recovered.  Other 
casualties  of  which  we  knowr  not  the  date  are  here  given.  Frank- 
lin Meserve,  a  lad,  was  crushed  to  death  by  a  loaded  wagon.  A 
boy  named  Glidden  was  drowned  in  Lake  Wentworth.  John 
Bickford  was  drowned  in  Lake  Winnipesaukee.  An  employee  of 
the  South  Wolfeborough  blanket  factory  was  crushed  to  death. 
Ichabod  Libbey  fell  from  his  carriage  on  the  hill  near  Mark 
Fernald's  and  died  from  his  injuries.  Nathan  Morrison  was 
crushed  to  death  by  a  heavy  stone  which  he  was  trying  to  sink 
on  the  walk  near  his  dwelling. 


496 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Before  Henry  Rust,  the  early  settler,  had  brought  his  family 
here,  his  camp  was  burned,  destroying  his  guns,  clothing,  and 
provisions.  About  1813  the  dwelling  of  Samuel  Nudd  was  burned, 
and  in  it  his  two  sons,  aged  ten  and  eleven  years.  The  Governor 
Wentworth  house  was  destroyed  in  1820  by  fire  caught  from 
sparks  falling  on  the  moss-covered  roof.  Samuel  Avery's  store 
was  burned  in  1823.  Running  fires  caused  the  burning  of  the 
dwelling  of  Isaac  Poor  in  1829.  David  Blake's  residence  was 
burned  in  1830.  In  1826  the  home  of  Daniel  Whitten  was  burned. 
Dec.  15,  1841,  the  woolen  factory  in  Wolfeborough  Falls,  owned 
by  the  Pickering  Factory  Company,  was  burned.  This  factory 
was  built  in  1816,  and  became  the  property  of  the  above  firm 
(composed  of  Stephen  and  Daniel  Pickering,  Nathaniel  Rogers, 
and  Samuel  Avery)  in  1836.  Insurance  on  buildings  and  ma- 
chinery, $5,000;  on  stock  (owned  by  Stephen  Durgin),  $1,500. 
A  tannery  owned  by  Moses  Varney  was  burned  in  1845  >  l°ss> 
$10,000  above  insurance.  November  i,  1845,  Nathaniel  Rogers' 
barn  was  struck  by  lightning,  and  consumed  with  its  contents ; 
loss,  $1,000. 

December  5,  1846,  a  fire  at  South  Wolfeborough  destroyed  a 
chair  manufactory,  a  wool-carding  and  cloth-dressing  mill,  a  tan- 
nery, a  shingle  mill,  a  carriage  shop,  and  an  unoccupied  store. 
The  losers  were  Henry  B.  Rust,  Nathaniel  Banfield,  John  C. 
Corliss,  and  William  Deland.  The  whole  loss  was  $5,000.  In 
1850  James  Boyle's  woolen  factory  at  South  Wolfeborough  was 
burned,  and  near  the  same  year  John  Haines  lost  his  dwelling, 
and  John  Tabor  a  small  pipe  factory.  March  7,  1861,  a  grist- 
mill owned  by  Mrs.  Alphonso  G.  Colby  was  burned ;  loss,  $3,500 ; 
insurance,  $2,500.  January  21,  1862,  a  set  of  buildings,  house, 
barn,  etc.,  and  contents,  belonging  to  William  Clark,  were  con- 
sumed. The  Paul  Varney  house  was  burned  in  1864.  John  A. 
Chamberlin  lost  a  new  barn,  part  of  his  dwelling,  and  two  hundred 
dollars'  worth  of  tools  and  hay  by  fire,  July  n,  1868. 

Libbey,  Varney  &  Company's  steam  mill  was  burned  June  24, 


JOSEPH   LEWANDO 


HISTORY   OF   WOLFEBOROUOH. 


497 


1871  ;  loss  $12,000.  March  29,  1875,  the  dwelling  occupied  by 
Samuel  Jenness  on  Trask's  Hill  was  burned.  A  tannery,  barn, 
and  shed,  with  a  large  amount  of  stock,  all  belonging  to  Moses 
Varney,  was  consumed  by  fire  July  4,  1877 ;  loss  above  insurance, 
$15,000.  The  Parker  house  near  South  Wolfeborough,  formerly 
the  residence  of  Colonel  Henry  Rust,  was  burned  December  7, 
1877.  John  Clow's  farm  building  was  burned  August  10,  1878. 
A  house  owned  by  Paul  D.  Rand  was  burned  September  9,  1878. 
A.  S.  Libbey  lost  buildings  by  fire  November  9,  1878,  amounting 
to  $1,500  dollars.  October  u,  1881,  the  dwelling  of  Jasper  H. 
Warren  was  burned.  January  21,  1885,  a  dwelling  owned  by  N. 
T.  Brewster  and  occupied  by  Isaiah  Piper  was  burned.  February 
2,  1887,  a  fire  destroyed  two  wooden  buildings,  used  as  stores,  on 
the  present  site  of  Central  Block.  The  postoffice  was  located  in 
one  of  the  buildings,  but  was  removed  without  damage  to  mails. 
Piper  Block  was  also  damaged ;  total  loss,  about  $7,000. 

August  9,  1887,  occurred  the  most  disastrous  fire  in  the  town's 
history.  The  newly  erected  shoe  factory  owned  by  citizens  and 
occupied  by  Messrs.  Cropley  and  Monroe  was  burned  together 
with  eight  dwellings  and  a  large  quantity  of  dressed  lumber.  The 
fire  department  at  that  time  consisted  of  two  volunteer  companies, 
with  hand  engines,  and  it  is  little  short  of  miraculous  that  the 
fire  was  checked  short  of  the  lake  shore.  The  property  burned 
beside  the  factory  were  three  dwellings  belonging  to  Blake  Fol- 
som,  a  carpenter's  shop,  double  house  owned  by  Sawyer  &  Tib- 
betts,  three  houses  owned  by  William  C.  Thomson,  one  house 
belonging  to  Greenlief  B.  Clark,  also  a  large  quantity  of  pine 
boards  belonging  to  Libbey  &  Varney.  The  total  loss  was  $140,- 

000.  In  October,   1887,  a  fire  broke  out  in  Piper  Block,  doing 
some  damage  to  the  property  of  occupants,  among  whom  were 
the  G.  A.  R.  Post,  Lake  National  Bank,  Granite  State  News,  Co. 
K.  N.  H.  Militia,  and  several  stores.    Nov.  2,  1887,  the  stable  of 
Jesse  Gould  on  North  Main  Street  was  burned.     The  stable  of 

1.  B.  Manning,  his  nearest  neighbor,  was  set  on  fire  the  same  day. 


498 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


Both  these  fires  were  incendiary.  In  June,  1888,  the  Free  Baptist 
Church  was  damaged  by  a  fire  which  destroyed  the  sheds.  B.  F. 
Garland's  dwelling  at  Pine  Hill  was  burned  the  same  month  ;  loss, 
$1,000. 

December  24,  1889,  the  Libbey  and  Varney  mill  burned.  The 
fire  was  of  small  extent  when  discovered,  but  owing  to  the  failure 
of  the  hand  engine  and  the  apparatus  for  the  new  hydrants,  total 
loss  ensued.  Some  dry  lumber  was  also  consumed.  The  Cole- 
man  house  near  Wolfeborough  Center  was  burned  in  1893.  This 
building  was  one  of  the  oldest  in  town. 

In  1891  the  dwelling  of  Mrs.  Lowell  at  Pleasant  Valley  was 
burned.  March  3,  1894,  a  threatening  fire  broke  out  at  Wolfe- 
borough  Falls,  which  for  a  time  bid  fair  to  destroy  the  business 
portion  of  the  village.  An  excelsior  mill  belonging  to  Frank  Hut- 
chins  was  destroyed,  with  a  loss  of  $6,000.  Furniture  and 
machinery  amounting  to  $1,900,  the  property  of  William  B. 
Hodge,  was  also  lost.  The  buildings  on  the  Hasty  farm  were 
burned  October  18,  1894;  fire  supposed  to  be  incendiary.  The 
dwelling-house  of  Fred  E.  Hersey  on  Center  Street,  Wolfe- 
borough  Falls,  was  badly  damaged  by  fire  Feb.  20,  1896.  The 
"Estabrook,"  a  Brewster  Academy  dormitory,  was  gutted  by  fire 
February  24,  1897.  The  mammouth  barn  owned  by  N.  T.  Brew- 
ster was  burned  Feb.  23,  1896,  together  with  twenty  tons  of  hay 
and  a  cider-mill.  Most  of  the  large  stock  of  animals  were  saved. 
The  barn  was  150  by  36  feet  and  the  cider-mill  40  by  30  feet ;  loss 
about  $6,000. 

May  28,  1899,  the  town  was  visited  by  its  most  disastrous  con- 
flagration since  the  factory  fire  of  1887.  The  fire  started  in  the 
waiting-room  of  the  B.  &  M.  R.  R.  wharf  building.  This  was 
quickly  destroyed ;  the  flames  then  spread  to  the  old  C.  &  M.  R. 
R.  wharf  structure.  Goodwin's  Block  was  also  destroyed.  In 
the  B.  &  M.  building  were  located  the  offices  of  the  Granite  State 
News,  the  laundry  of  John  McHugh,  rooms  of  the  Wolfeborough 
Cornet  band,  and  a  storage  room  for  carriages.  The  other  wharf 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


499 


was  used  for  dwelling  and  storage  purposes.  Goodwin's  Block 
contained  the  stores  of  Charles  H.  Johnson,  Sylvester  A.  Edgerly, 
Everett  S.  Albee,  and  the  Wolfeborough  Drug  store.  The  build- 
ing was  owned  by  Mrs.  M.  A.  Goodwin.  Offices  occupied  by 
Sewall  W.  Abbott,  Charles  F.  Parker,  and  Dr.  F.  E.  Meader 
were  in  the  building  as  was  also  the  lodge  room  of  Morning  Star 
Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Carroll  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.  The  loss  was 
about  $60,000.  As  in  all  previous  instances  of  this  kind  the  town 
quickly  responded  to  the  emergency,  and  the  burnt  district  pre- 
sents a  better  appearance  than  ever  before. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

FIRE  PRECINCT  ESTABLISHED — FIRE  ENGINE  PURCHASED — HOSE 
COMPANIES  SUCCEED  VOLUNTEER  FIREMEN — ELECTRIC 
LIGHT  PLANT  INSTALLED — WOLFEBOROUGH  WATER  WORKS 
— POST  ROUTES  AND  STAGES — PRIMITIVE  POSTAL  FACILI- 
TIES— THE  DOVER-SANDWICH  STAGES — FAMOUS  DRIVERS. 

MAY  2,  1866,  the  citizens  of  the  westerly  portion  of  the  town 
took  advantage  of  the  statute  providing  for  the  establish- 
ment of  a  fire  precinct,  which  was  laid  out  as  follows : — 

Beginning  at  the  westerly  corner  of  John  Folsorn's  land,  on 
the  lake,  running  northerly  by  said  Folsorn's  land  to  the  road 
leading  from  Wolfeborough  to  Tuftonborough ;  thence  by  said 
road  to  the  westerly  corner  of  Joseph  Edmonds'  farm ;  thence  by 
the  westerly  side  of  Joseph  Edmonds',  George  W.  Bassett's,  and 
William  Mason's  land  to  the  Pine  Hill  road,  so-called ;  thence  by 
said  road  to  the  westerly  corner  of  Zamancler  Garland's  land ; 
thence  by  said  Garland's  and  Elisha  Goodwin's  land  to  land  of 
Nathaniel  Piper ;  thence  by  said  Goodwin's  land  to  Crooked  Pond, 
so-called ;  thence  across  the  end  to  the  easterly  side  of  said  pond ; 
thence  by  the  shore  of  said  pond  to  land  of  Eli  V.  Brewster ; 
thence  by  land  of  said  Brewster  to  South  Branch  Brook,  so- 
called  ;  thence  across  said  brook  to  the  northerly  side  of  Nathaniel 
T.  Brewster's  land;  thence  by  said  Brewster's  land  and  Smith's 
Pond  to  the  rangeway  at  the  corner  of  Benjamin  F.  Thompson's 
land  ;  thence  southerly  by  said  Brewster's  land  and  the  rangeway 
to  land  of  Addison  W.  Banfield  ;  thence  by  said  Banfield's  land 
and  the  rangeway  to  the  lake  ;  thence  by  the  shore  of  said  lake  to 
Smith's  Bridge  ;  thence  by  the  shore  of  the  lake  to  the  Cam-ing 
Place,  so-called ;  running  across  said  Carrying  Place  to  the  first- 
mentioned  bounds,  not  meaning  to  include  Wolfeborough  Neck. 
500 


HISTORY  OF   WOLFEBOROUGH.  50! 

At  the  same  meeting  $1,075  was  appropriated  to  purchase  a 
fire  engine  and  hose.  This  famous  fire  fighter  was  formerly  Strat- 
ford Engine  No.  i,  of  Dover.  The  name  was  changed  to  Carroll, 
No.  2,  and  under  this  appellation  it  is  still  treasured  by  the  precinct. 
The  engine  house  was  built  the  same  year  on  land  leased  from 
Moses  T.  Gate.  The  first  board  of  firewards  elected  were  Alvah 
S.  Libbey,  Eleazer  D.  Barker,  and  Joseph  W.  Goodwin. 

The  fire  apparatus  was  added  to  from  time  to  time  up  to  1888, 
when  a  ladder  truck  was  presented  the  precinct  by  citizens  and 
summer  visitors,  its  need  being  demonstrated  by  the  big  fire  of  the 
preceding  year.  The  old  engine  company  was  disbanded  upon 
the  installation  of  the  water  works  in  1889,  and  since  that  date 
four  hose  companies  have  given  adequate  protection  to  the  com- 
munity. South  Wolfeborough  still  maintains  its  volunteer  en- 
gine company. 

The  hose  companies  are  Rollins,  No.  i,  Henry  B.  Furber,  fore- 
man ;  A.  W.  Wiggin,  No.  2,  Alonzo  W.  Avery,  foreman ;  Eagle, 
No.  3,  Charles  L.  Home,  foreman;  Monitor,  No.  i,  of  South 
Wolfeborough,  Horace  B.  Rust,  foreman.  Irving  W.  Godfrey 
is  foreman  of  the  Hook  and  Ladder  company. 

Monitor  Engine  Co.,  of  South  Wolfeborough  was  organized 
in  1862,  and  purchased  an  engine  and  maintained  it  for  several 
years,  when  the  town  assisted  them  by  purchasing  hose.  It  was 
the  first  organized  company  in  town  and  still  maintains  its  organi- 
zation. 

At  the  annual  precinct  meeting  in  1897  a  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  consider  the  advisability  of  establishing  an  electric  light 
plant.  Their  report  was  favorable,  and  action  was  subsequently 
taken  to  install  such  a  plant  for  street  and  domestic  lighting, 
$6,000  being  appropriated.  Since  then  an  engine  has  been  pur- 
chased at  an  expense  of  $2,000,  and  the  property  has  appreciated 
until  it  is  today  estimated  to  be  worth  $10,000.  The  management 
of  the  system  is  in  the  hands  of  the  board  of  firewards,  consisting 
of  Joseph  Lewando,  Obed  S.  Young,  and  George  H.  Clough. 


502 


HISTORY   OF   WOLFEBOROUOH. 


The  plant  includes  a  dynamo,  engine,  wiring,  and  lights,  power 
being  furnished  from  the  mill  of  S.  W.  Clow  &  Co.,  near  which 
the  power  house  is  located.  There  are  now  on  the  circuit  one 
hundred  incandescent  lamps  for  street  lighting  and  seventeen 
hundred  for  domestic  purposes. 

In  1887,  after  an  extended  period  of  public  agitation  as  to  the 
need  of  an  adequate  supply  of  water  for  household  uses  and  fire 
protection,  the  Wolfeborough  Aqueduct  and  Water  company  was 
incorporated.  The  corporation  consisted  of  John  L.  Peavey, 
Jeremiah  A.  Farrington,  Joseph  W.  Goodwin,  and  Charles  F. 
Piper.  Some  preliminary  surveys  were  made,  but  in  the  meantime 
the  feeling  that  the  town  should  undertake  the  work  crystallized. 
Upon  the  payment  of  expenses  already  incurred,  the  Aqueduct 
company  waived  its  chartered  rights  and  in  June,  1888,  an  act 
was  passed  "to  establish  Water  Works  in  the  town  of  Wolfe- 
borough." 

On  August  12  of  the  same  year  a  board  of  water  commissioners, 
consisting  of  Israel  B.  Manning,  Henry  W.  Furber,  and  Joseph 
P.  Heath,  was  appointed  by  the  selectmen.  The  board  im- 
mediately began  an  investigation  of  the  various  sources  of  water 
supply  in  the  vicinity,  and  on  August  24,  at  a  previously  appointed 
meeting  of  the  citizens  made  a  preliminary  report. 

At  this  meeting  the  commissioners  were  instructed  "to  take 
water  from  that  source  which  will  furnish  an  ample  supply  of  the 
best  quality  of  water,  at  the  least  expense."  Acting  under  this 
vote  and  in  accordance  with  the  advice  of  Messrs.  Farrington  and 
Springfield,  engineers,  it  was  decided  to  adopt  the  gravity  system 
and  take  water  from  Beech  Pond. 

Proposals  for  construction  and  the  furnishing  of  material  were 
opened  September  7,  and  awards  were  made  as  follows :  For 
furnishing  wrought  iron  pipe,  gates  and  valves,  Gilchrist  &  Gor- 
ham,  Boston,  Mass. ;  cast  iron  pipe  and  special  casting's,  McNeil 
Pipe  and  Foundry  Co.,  Burlington,  X.  J. ;  hydrants,  King  & 
Goddard,  Boston,  Mass. ;  laying  of  pipe,  Franklin  A.  Snow,  Provi- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROVGH.  503 

dence,  R.  I. ;  construction  of  reservoir  and  intake,  Frederick  R. 
Page,  Maiden,  Mass.  Ground  was  broken  for  the  intake  on  Sep- 
tember 25,  and  trenching  for  the  main  was  begun  October  3.  On 
the  first  day  of  January,  1890,  fifty-six  taps  had  been  made  in 
the  distributing  pipe,  and  nearly  seventy  families  were  supplied 
with  water.  The  remaining  work  in  connection  with  the  first 
contract  was  completed  early  in  the  spring.  Joseph  P.  Heath 
has  been  superintendent  since  the  installation  of  the  system. 

Since  then  there  have  been  three  additions  to  the.  system  as 
follows :  To  South  Wolfeborough,  at  a  cost  of  $9,000 ;  to  Whit- 
ten's  River,  at  a  cost  of  $2,000;  to  Goose  Corner,  at  a  cost  of 
$1,000 

Total  number  of  water  takers,  400 

'  hydrants,  57 

'  public  fountains,  3 

Total  length  of  pipe,  18  miles. 

Capacity  of  distributing  reservoir,  300,000  gallons. 

STATEMENT    FOR    THE    YEAR    ENDING    FEB.    15,    I9OI. 

Cash  on  hand  (Feb.  15,  1900)  $686.13 

Additional  service  39i-6i 

Material  Sold  11.67 

Sale  of  3  1-2  per  cent.  Bonds  800.00 

Rentals  to  July  i,  1901  3,291.00 

CASH    PAID. 

Interest  on  Bonds  $1,769.75 

Bonds  (4's)  Redeemed  800.00 

Labor  on  Works  465.82 

Material  Purchased  600.64 

J.  P.  Heath — Superintendent  275.00 

Miscellaneous  Bills  73. 10 

Cash  on  Hand  1,196.10 


504 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOKOUGH. 
LIABILITIES. 

Bonds  (3  i-2's)  $56,000 

Bonds  (4's)  1,000 


$57,000 

ASSETTS. 

\Vork  Shop  $  200.00 

Material  and  Tools  473.28 

Goose  Corner  Extension  293.22 

Water  Works  Plant  7,500.00 

Cash  in  Treasurer's  hands  1,196.10 


$77,162.60 

The  first  provision  for  the  conveyance  of  mail  rnaUer  in  New 
Hampshire  was  made  June  17,  1786,  when  the  legislature  enacted 
a  bull  providing  that  a  "post  set  off  every  other  Monday  from 
Portsmouth  and  proceed  through  New  Market,  Durham,  Dover, 
Rochester.  Wakefield,  Ossipee  Gore,  and  Tamworth  to  Moulton- 
borough ;  thence  through  Meredith,  Gilmanton,  Barnstead,  Bar- 
rington,  and  Dover  to  Portsmouth."  A  route  established  in  1791 
came  from  Portsmouth  once  a  fortnight  to  Dover,  Rochester, 
Wakefield,  Ossipee,  Tamworth,  Sandwich,  Holderness,  Plymouth, 
Meredith,  etc.,  as  before.  Neither  of  these  routes  touched  Wolfe- 
borough,  although  both  went  around  it. 

The  only  post-office  in  Strafford  County  previous  to  1800  was 
at  Dover.  In  the  Gazette  and  Advertiser,  published  in  that  town, 
were  frequent  advertisements  of  letters  for  persons  in  what  are 
now  Carroll  County  towns.  The  post  rider  in  those  days  was 
Samuel  Bragg,  the  publisher  of  the  paper.  He  commenced  his 
trips  in  1795  and  consumed  a  week  in  making  the  round.  His 
compensation  was  twelve  pounds  a  year.  Postage  on  letters  was 
four  pence  under  forty  miles  and  six  pence  for  each  additional 
fortv  miles. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


505 


It  is  probable  that  the  first  post-office  in  Wolfeborough  was 
established  about  1820,  and  that  Daniel  Pickering  was  the  post- 
master. He  held  the  office  for  many  years.  For  some  years  prior 
to  that  date  there  was  without  doubt  a  horseback  mail  between 
Dover  and  Wolfeborough,  possibly  continuing  through  Sand- 
wich. It  is  certain  that  a  post  rider  passed  through  Wolfeborough 
on  the  route  from  Concord  to  Portland,  Me.,  going  over  the 
"Dick"  Mountain  road.  This  was  at  a  very  early  period.  On 
this  route  the  saddle-bags  were  eventually  superceded  by  a  one- 
horse  wagon. 

One  summer's  afternoon  in  1825  the  citizens  of  Wolfeborough 
were  treated  to  a  surprise.  There  was  the  usual  gathering  about 
the  post-office  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  mail,  when  down  the 
turnpike  was  seen  approaching  a  dashing  two-horse  coach,  with 
flag  flying,  the  horses  galloping,  while  the  exuberant  driver, 
Robert  I.  Clark,  wound  thrilling  blasts  upon  the  horn.  It  was  the 
arrival  of  the  new  mail  outfit  from  Dover,  and  hearty  were  the 
cheers  with  which  it  was  welcomed  by  the  assembled  company. 

The  postmasters  since  Mr.  Pickering's  long  term  of  office  have 
been  Levi  T.  Hersey,  Eleazer  D.  Barker,  Charles  F.  Hill  (for  a 
brief  period),  Charles  H.  Hersey,  John  G.  Cate,  Charles  F.  Piper, 
Joseph  W.  Goodwin,  Frank  P.  Hobbs,  and  Forrest  W.  Peavey. 

Stage  connections  were  made  from  time  to  time  with  various 
points  touched  by  the  railroad  previous  to  the  building  of  the 
Wolfeborough  road  in  1872.  During  the  summer  season  the 
boats  plying  on  the  lake  have  also  carried  the  mails.  At  the 
present  time  Wolfeborough  is  the  distributing  point  for  mails  for 
North,  South,  and  Center  Wolfeborough,  and  Mirror  Lake  and 
Melvin  Milage  in  Tuftonborough,  stage  connections  being  main- 
tained with  these  points.  The  facilities  enjoyed  by  the  town  are 
now  adequate,  four  mails  to  P>oston  being  allowed  during-  the 
larger  portion  of  the  year. 

Other  post-offices  in  town  are  Fast  Wolfeborough  and  Wolfe- 
borough  Falls,  the  former  having  railroad  service  and  the  latter 


506 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


both  railroad  and  stage  service.  The  South  Wolfeborough  post- 
office  was  established  in  1834,  with  Henry  B.  Rust  as  postmaster. 

In  considering-  the  development  of  the  town's  mail  service  one 
naturally  recalls  some  of  the  famous  stage-drivers  of  former  days. 
Men  who,  like  Henry  Savage,  Henry  Sayward,  and  the  Gilmans, 
permitted  neither  weather  nor  bad  roads  to  hinder  them  on  their 
tri-weekly  trips  from  Sandwich  to  Dover.  Four  generations  of 
Gilmans  have  held  the  reins  on  the  Sandwich  route,  Samuel  and 
his  son  Charles,  both  noted  whips,  Charles  Jr.,  who  is  still  driving 
between  Wolfeborough  and  Sandwich  after  thirty-eight  years  of 
service,  and  Charles  L.,  who  assists  his  father  on  this  route.  Good 
stories  are  told  of  the  time  when  "Steve"  Durgin  used  to  "beat 
the  boat"  from  Alton  to  Wolfeborough.  James  and  Silas  Durgin 
were  also  favorites  on  the  "pike." 

Mention  should  also  be  made  of  Crawford,  John  Quimby, 
Frank  Nelson,  Elisha  Allen,  James  Kendall,  Elisha  Hanson, 
Henry  W.  Furber,  Charles  Kendall,  and  Charles  S.  Paris,  most 
of  whom  are  remembered  by  the  older  portion  of  the  community. 

Flying  trips  were  made  on  the  old  Sandwich — Dover  line.  The 
horses  were  the  best  money  could  buy,  changes  were  made  at 
Melvin,  Wolfeborough,  Middleton,  and  Rochester,  and  the  drivers 
used  to  "send  em"  at  top  speed.  Express  trains  can  never  take  the 
place,  sentimentally  or  aesthetically,  of  the  old  "coach  and  four" 
of  early  days. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

EARLY  TRANSPORTATION  PROJECTS — ROADS    AND    CANALS — FA- 
CILITIES AFFORDED  BY  THE  LAKE — JOSEPH  SMITH  AND  HIS 

GUNDALOVV — OLD-TIME  RAFTING — THE  FIRST  STEAMER, 
BELKNAP — THE  LADY  OF  THE  LAKE — WOLFEBOROUGH 
GETS  IN  CLOSER  TOUCH  WITH  THE  WORLD — NEGOTIATIONS 
FOR  RAILROAD  CONNECTIONS  —  WOLFEBOROUGH  ROAD 
FINALLY  CONSTRUCTED DIFFICULTIES  OVERCOME — STEAM- 
ERS DOVER  AND  MOUNT  WASHINGTON — STORY  OF  THE 
LADY — FAMOUS  OLD  CRAFT  OF  A  GENERATION  AGO — THE 
FUTURE — EXPORTS  OF  FORMER  DAYS. 

LOXG  before  the  conception  of  steam  power  and  engines  as 
applied  to  locomotion,  men  of  advanced  thought  in  New 
England  became  interested  in  the  promotion  of  improved  methods 
of  travel  and  transportation.  No  public  official  was  more  zealous 
in  this  work  than  Governor  Went  worth.  In  a  letter  dated  April 
5,  1758,  now  on  file  in  Halifax,  he  says :  "A  road  may  be  easily 
made  from  Quebec  to  Winnipiseogee  which  would  immediately 
communicate  with  all  the  populous  and  most  fertile  parts  of  New 
England  at  one-third  of  the  distance,  trouble,  time  and  expense 
of  any  other  route." 

During  the  first  three  years  of  his  temporary  residence  in  Wolfe- 
borough  he  secured  the  laying  out,  through  the  town,  of  the  Pe- 
quaket  Road,  leading  to  Conway,  and  the  opening  of  the  College 
Road  its  entire  distance  to  Hanover.  The  facilities  for  communica- 
tion between  different  localities  at  that  time  beyond  common  high- 
ways consisted  of  turnpikes  and  canals. 

When  the  Wentworth  Farm  was  offered  for  sale  in  1797,  the 
vendue  bill  stated  that  it  was  "bounded  by  Smith's  Pond  &  said 
pond  discharges  itself  into  the  great  Winnipisocky  Lake,  from 

507 


5o8 


HISTORY   OF   WOLFEBOROUGH. 


thence  there  will  be  a  canal  communication  with  Boston  in  a  few 
years."  A  charter  was  obtained  in  1811  "to  cut  a  canal  and  lock 
all  the  falls  between  Winnipiseogee  Lake  and  the  Cocheco  branch 
of  the  Piscataqua  in  Dover,"  a  distance  of  twenty-seven  miles. 
The  fall  of  four  hundred  and  fifty-two  feet  required  fifty-three 
locks,  and  the  expense  was  estimated  at  three  hundred  thousand 
dollars. 

This  charter  failed  to  be  effective,  and  in  1819  the  "Little  Pe- 
quakit  Canal"  company  was  incorporated.  It  was  claimed  that  by 
the  construction  of  this  canal  more  than  one  and  one-half  million 
square  miles  of  timber  land  would  be  opened  to  navigable  waters, 
and  that  immense  benefit  would  accrue  to  New  Hampshire.  The 
invention  of  locomotives  and  the  building  of  railroads  have  long 
since  brought  into  service  more  practical  methods  than  the  canal, 
which  in  early  days  was  the  highest  type  of  transportation  for  pur- 
poses of  internal  commerce. 

Lake  Winnepesaukee  furnishes  excellent  facilities  for  the  car- 
riage of  freight  and  passengers.  This  body  of  water  is  nineteen 
miles  long,  varying  in  width  from  one  to  ten  miles.  Its  shape 
being  irregular,  it  has  numerous  bays,  which  serve  as  excellent 
harbors.  The  largest  are  Meredith,  Moultonborough,  and  Merry 
Meeting.  Its  height  above  ocean  level  is  502-496  feet,  and  its 
greatest  depth,  east  of  Rattle  Snake  Island,  is  200  feet.  Its  water 
area  is  1,949,049,466  square  feet,  its  islands  have  an  area  of  227,- 
313,357  square  feet,  and  its  basin  includes  about  350  square  miles, 
no  point  in  this  basin  being  more  than  seven  miles  distant  from 
the  shore.  The  amount  of  water  discharged  at  its  outlet  is  remark- 
ably large  compared  with  the  extent  of  the  watershed.  Several 
large  peninsulas  project  into  its  waters.  They  are  Meredith  Neck, 
Moultonborough  Neck.  Tuftonborough  Neck,  and  Wolfeborough 
Neck.  The  last  mentioned  is  the  smallest. 

Wolfeborough,  situated  on  the  eastern  shore  of  the  lake,  owes 
much  of  its  prosperity  to  the  proximity  of  this  body  of  water. 


HISTORY   OF   WOLFEBOROUGH. 


509 


The  first  settlers  utilized,  it  in  summer  for  freighting  in  their  little 
dug-outs  and  in  winter  with  their  hand-sleds,  as  well  as  a  means 
of  communication  with  other  pioneer  settlements  on  its  shores. 
When  Governor  Wentworth  erected  his  mansion,  in  1771,  he 
made  use  of  a  small  sloop  to  convey  the  materials  across  the  lake. 
This  was  probably  the  first  craft  larger  than  a  canoe  on  its  waters. 

Joseph  Smith,  a  wholesale  merchant  of  Dover,  who  in  the  early 
twenties  established  many  retail  stores  in  the  rural  towns,  dis- 
tributed his  goods  in  part  by  means  of  a  gundalow,  which  made 
use  of  sails  when  the  wind  was  favorable  and  large  oars  when  it 
failed.  This  vessel  navigated  the  lake  for  several  years  and  was 
finally  wrecked  on  Great  Boat  Ledge  in  a  gale  of  wind.  Several 
of  this  kind  of  craft  have  sailed  the  waters  of  the  lake.  Rafting 
in  early  times  was  done  by  means  of  sails  and  oars  on  the  same 
principle  as  the  gundalows.  The  crews  consisted  of  ten  men. 
There  were  two  sets  of  rowers,  four  each,  who  alternately  worked 
at  the  sweeps  in  order  that  the  unwieldy  structure  might  not  lose 
its  headway.  The  oars  were  heavy  and  the  labor  arduous.  Much 
simpler  and  more  effective  is  the  method  of  towing  by  steamer 
now  in  vogue. 

The  first  horse  boat  was  built  by  David  Parsons,  of  Long 
Island,  in  1838.  This  kind  of  craft  became  quite  common.  One 
of  them  was  used  as  a  judges'  boat  in  the  first  Harvard-Yale  boat 
race,  Avhich  took  place  off  Center  Harbor  in  1856.  Nathaniel 
Rogers,  of  this  town,  built  one  for  the  transportation  of  stock  and 
produce,  to  and  from  his  lands  on  Rattlesnake  Island. 

Before  the  railroads  reached  Winnipesaukee  most  of  the  freight- 
ing between  Wolfeborough  and  the  commercial  towns  farther 
south  was  by  ox-teams,  overland.  After  the  steamer  Lady  of  the 
Lake  began  running  in  connection  with  the  Boston,  Concord  & 
Montreal  railroad,  freight  from  Boston  came  over  that  route  dur- 
ing the  summer  season,  but  very  little  in  the  winter,  as  travel  on 
the  ice  between  Wolfeborough  and  Lake  Village  was  considered 
somewhat  hazardous.  Consequently,  during  the  winter  the  old 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


method  of  teaming  over  the  Middleton  road  was  resorted  to,  al- 
though horses  were  as  a  rule  substituted  for  the  slow  ox-teams. 

A  stock  company,  organized  in  1830,  built  the  first  steamer  on 
the  lake  in  1833.  This  was  the  Belknap,  and  a  curious  craft  it  was. 
The  boiler  was  set  in  brick,  and  the  boat  drew  so  much  water  that 
a  lighter  was  employed  to  load  and  unload  its  cargo  at  the  Wolfe- 
borough  landing,  which  was  then  located  on  the  estate  now  owned 
by  Charles  F.  Piper.  The  speed  of  the  craft  was  from  six  to  eight 
miles  an  hour,  under  favorable  conditions.  Winburn  A.  Sanborn, 
afterwards  captain  of  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  was  first  in  charge 
of  the  boat ;  James  Jewett  was  captain  when  she  was  lost.  This 
steamer  never  proved  a  success,  and,  when,  in  November,  1841, 
it  was  wrecked  on  Steamboat  Island,  its  owners  were  rather  re- 
lieved than  otherwise. 

The  "Lady"  then  in  charge  of  the  popular  Captain  William 
Walker,  was  moored  each  night  at  the  Wolfeborough  wharf  and 
transported  the  Boston  freight  for  two  years  before  any  compe- 
tition arose.  In  1851  the  Cocheco  railroad  having  been  continued 
to  Alton,  the  steamer  Dover  was  built  to  run  in  connection  with  it. 
From  that  date  most  of  the  freight  from  the  metropolis  was  car- 
ried over  the  Boston  and  Maine  road,  being  forwarded  to  Wolfe- 
borough  in  summer  by  the  "Dover"  and  in  winter  over  the  ice. 
This  method  continued  until  the  construction  of  the  Wolfe- 
borough  railroad,  in  1872. 

It  was  a  vast  improvement  over  the  ox-team,  this  speedier  and 
less  expensive  transportation  by  steam  power,  although  the  ad- 
vantage was  confined  to  the  warm  season.  As  always  follows, 
facilities  acquired  beget  a  desire  for  still  greater  conveniences,  and 
the  inhabitants  of  the  more  densely  populated  portion  of  the  town 
became  greatly  interested  in  securing  direct  railroad  connection 
with  the  outside  world.  The  Boston,  Concord  &  Montreal,  the 
Boston  &  Maine,  and  the  Eastern  railroads,  were  three  distinct 
and  separate  organizations,  having  no  particular  interest  in  com- 
mon ;  the  two  former  had  alreadv  made  connections  with  Win- 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH.  5II 

nipesaukee,  and  the  projectors  of  the  last  named,  though  not 
averse  to  acquiring  a  port  on  the  lake,  were  more  desirous  of  con- 
trolling the  mountain  traffic. 

It  was  confidently  hoped  that  the  Portsmouth,  Great  Falls  & 
Conway  Railroad  Company  would  lay  out  their  road  south  of 
Lake  Wentworth,  touching  at  Wolfeborough  village,  thence  run- 
ning northerly  to  Conway.  There  was  another  practicable  route 
through  W7olfeborough  by  way  of  Cotton  Valley  and  Water  Vil- 
lage, and  it  was  understood  that  the  builders  of  the  new  road 
looked  with  favor  upon  this  location.  The  survey,  however,  would 
have  carried  the  line  four  miles  east  of  Winnipesaukee  and  was 
not  what  the  Wolfeborough  people  desired.  The  road  was  finally 
constructed  east  of  the  Wolfeborough  hills  and  ten  miles  distant 
from  the  lake. 

The  completion  of  the  Conway  road  rendered  the  construction 
of  a  line  to  Wolfeborough,  from  any  point,  quite  problematical. 
Subsequently,  however,  Hon.  John  W.  Sanborn,  who  held  official 
relations  with  the  Conway  road,  suggested  to  some  leading  citi- 
zens that  a  branch  from  that  road  to  Wolfeborough  might  be 
secured,  provided  that  a  sum  equal  to  one-fifth  of  the  town's 
ratable  valuation  could  be  raised.  This  amount  would  equal 
thirty-five  thousand  dollars.  The  people  of  Wolfeborough  were 
favorably  impressed  with  the  idea  and  soon  made  application  to 
the  legislature  for  a  charter.  By  an  enactment  of  July  i,  1868, 
the  Wolfeborough  Railroad  Company  was  incorporated,  to  ex- 
tend from  Wolfeborough  Junction  to  Wolfeborough,  a  distance 
of  twelve  miles. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  September  20,  1869,  it  was  voted  (three 
hundred  in  favor  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-two  against)  to  ap- 
propriate thirty-five  thousand  dollars  to  aid  in  constructing  the 
road,  and  Elisha  Goodwin,  Jr.,  Blake  Folsom,  and  John  L.  Gold- 
smith were  appointed  a  committee  to  represent  the  town  in  all 
negotiations  with  the  railroad  company.  It  was  voted  to  pay  one- 


512 


HISTORY   OF   WOLFEBOROUGH. 


half  the  appropriation  when  the  road  was  brought  to  grade  and 
the  balance  upon  its  completion. 

Considerable  time  elapsed  before  active  operations  were  begun, 
and  December  2,  1870,  the  former  votes,  appropriating  the  money 
and  appointing  the  committee,  were  ratified,  the  vote  at  this  time 
standing  two  hundred  and  fifty-two  in  favor  to  seventy  against. 

Work  was  commenced  on  the  road  Nov.  1871,  ground  being 
broken  near  Mast  Landing  by  Lyford  Shorey,  then  aged  eighty- 
seven  years.  A  band  discoursed  stirring  music,  and  the  occasion 
was  made  one  of  rejoicing  at  the  propitious  beginning  of  a  long 
desired  work.  August  19,  1872,  the  first  locomotive,  hauling 
five  passenger  coaches,  triumphantly  whistled  its  way  into  town, 
and  all  who  wished  were  given  free  rides  to  the  Junction  during 
that  day.  Regular  trains  were  put  on  as  soon  as  the  stations 
could  be  completed,  and  the  service  has  thus  far  been  maintained 
without  a  single  fatal  accident. 

Three  stations  are  located  on  the  branch,  Wolfeborough,  Wolfe- 
borough  Falls,  and  Cotton  Valley,  besides  a  flag  station  at  Fer- 
nald's.  The  road  is  now  under  a  lease  to  the  Eastern  railroad, 
which  expires  in  1940. 

The  road  was  not  built  without  engineering  difficulties.  Deep 
cuts  had  to  be  made  on  either  side  of  the  Wolfeborough  Falls 
station  and  long  dumps  across  Lake  WTentworth,  Crooked  Pond, 
and  the  Back  Bay.  The  route  is  an  attractive  one,  bordering  as 
it  does  for  a  long  distance  a  beautiful  mountain-hemmed  lake. 
All  things  considered,  the  one  adopted  is  the  best  of  the  plans 
suggested  for  a  railroad  to  the  lake.  To  one  gifted  with  the  pro- 
phetic instinct,  the  idea  of  some  future  connection  with  the  west- 
erly side  of  Lake  Winnipesaukee  might  suggest  itself.  The  lay 
of  the  land  would  make  such  an  undertaking  comparatively  easy 
of  accomplishment. 

The  name  of  the  steamer  Dover,  already  spoken  of  as  running 
in  connection  with  Boston  &  Maine  railroad,  was  afterwards 
changed  to  the  Chocorua.  She  was  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


513 


long  and  twenty-four  feet  beam,  being  afterwards  lengthened  to 
one  hundred  and  sixty-two  feet.  She  was  succeeded  in  1872  by 
the  commodious  steamer  Mount  Washington,  which  is  still  in 
commission.  She  is  one  hundred  and  eighty  feet  long  and  twenty- 
five  feet  beam.  The  boat  is  the  only  large  craft  now  running  on  a 
regular  schedule  on  the  lake.  She  is  licensed  to  carry  twelve 
hundred  passengers.  The  late  genial  Augustus  W.  Wiggin  was 
for  many  years  her  captain.  Harry  Wentworth,  of  Long  Island, 
is  now  in  command.  A  few  years  ago  she  was  completely  over- 
hauled and  partially  rebuilt,  and  is  now  a  model  of  the  side-wheel 
lake  type. 

When  the  Concord  &  Montreal  railroad  reached  Lake  Village 
in  1848,  a  demand  was  immediately  felt  for  a  connection  with 
Wolfeborough  and  Center  Harbor  by  way  of  the  lake.  The  Win- 
nipesaukee  Steamboat  Company  was  organized  that  year,  its 
charter  dating  June  24,  1848.  James  N.  Elkins,  S.  C.  Lyford, 
and  Charles  Lane  were  authorized  to  call  the  first  meeting,  and  at 
that  meeting  Mr.  Lyford  was  chosen  chairman  and  Mr.  Lane, 
clerk,  with  these  two  gentlemen  and  the  following  as  grantees : 
J.  N.  Elkins,  William  Walker,  Jr.,  Benjamin  J.  Cole,  and  J.  P. 
Coffin.  The  directors  were  Woodbury  L.  Melcher,  Daniel  Picker- 
ing, William  Walker,  Jr.,  B.  J.  Cole,  John  Coe,  J.  N.  Elkins,  and 
J.  T.  Coffin.  The  first  meeting  was  held  at  the  Cerro  Gordo 
House,  Sept.  12,  1848.  Benjamin  Cole  was  elected  president ; 
Charles  Lane,  clerk ;  J.  T.  Coffin,  treasurer ;  William  Walker, 
agent.  At  a  meeting  held  October  25  of  the  same  year  Mr.  Wal- 
ker presented  a  model  for  a  boat,  which  was  accepted.  The  plan 
called  for  a  craft  one  hundred  and  twenty-one  feet  long  and 
twenty-one  feet  beam.  Messrs.  Walker  and  Cole  were  authorized 
tc  build  and  they  proceeded  with  the  work  as  soon  as  possible, 
the  lumber  used  being  cut  around  the  lake. 

The  boat  was  finished  in  time  to  hold  the  annual  meeting  on 
board,  July  20,  1849.  William  Walker,  Jr.,  of  Concord,  was  the 
first  captain,  and  held  a  controlling  interest  in  the  stock,  which 


514 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


he  afterwards  sold  to  the  railroad  company.  Eleazer  Bickford  was 
the  first  pilot  and  succeeded  Mr.  Walker  as  captain  after  the  latter 
had  served  some  fifteen  years.  Then  followed  Winburn  A.  San- 
born,  James  Beede,  S.  B.  Cole,  then  Captain  Sanborn  again,  and 
John  S.  Wadleigh,  who  commanded  the  boat  until  she  was  re- 
tired from  service.  Pilot  John  Lovett,  whose  death  occurred  in 
the  summer  of  1900,  was  the  best  known  steamboat  man  on  the 
lake. 

The  "Lady"  was  partially  rebuilt  in  her  twenty-first  year.  Nov. 
13,  1867,  while  lying  at  the  Wolfeborough  dock,  she  took  fire 
and  burned  to  the  water's  edge.  On  one  occasion,  with  a  moon- 
light excursion  on  board,  she  struck  a  rock'  on  Witch  Island  and 
was  beached  on  Davis  Island.  The  loss  of  the  season's  business 
and  the  repairs  made  necessary  by  this  accident  cost  ten  thousand 
dollars.  The  steamer  paid  handsome  dividends  for  years,  but 
competition  finally  made  the  continuance  of  her  trips  unprofitable, 
and  when  she  became  too  old  for  service,  it  was  deemed  best  not 
to  replace  her  with  a  new  boat. 

Other  smaller  craft  whose  names  will  be  remembered  by  the 
older  residents  of  Wolfeborough  were  the  following : — 

The  Dolly  Dutlon  was  built  originally  by  Libbey  &  Varney  as  a 
scow.  She  was  afterwards  purchased  and  converted  into  a  tow- 
boat  by  Abram  Guptill.  She  was  famed  more  for  her  utility  than 
for  her  gracefulness  or  speed. 

Eli  C.  Swett  bought  the  Naugatuck  of  Charles  Brown  of  Lake 
Village  in  1866.  Soon  after  Mr.  Swett  went  west,  and  upon  his 
return  in  1873  built  the  Mayflower,  a  small,  side-wheel,  passenger 
and  freighting  boat,  which  ran  for  some  twenty  years. 

The  Long  Island,bmh  by  George  and  Perley  Brown,  was  of  the 
flat-bottomed,  square-end  type,  with  a  deck. 

The  Red  Hill,  built  by  Boston  parties,  never  proved  a  success, 
and  her  dismantled  hulk  now  lies  near  Lee's  Mills. 

The  James  Bell  was  at  one  time  owned  by  Alpheus  Swett,  and 
was  by  him  sold  to  Lake  Village  parties. 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


515 


The  Maid  of  the  Isles,  a  commodious  deck  and  cabin  steamer, 
was  built  at  Wolfeborough  by  William  D.  Haley.  Her  draft  was 
too  great  for  convenient  navigation,  however,  and  she  was  finally 
rebuilt  at  Lakeport,  from  which  place  she  now  runs  as  an  excur- 
sion boat. 

The  Nellie,  formerly  a  government  launch  in  Portsmouth  har- 
bor, was  run  for  several  years  from  Wolfeborough,  by  her  owner, 
J.  R.  Duncan. 

Numerous  pleasure  and  freighting  boats  now  ply  the  waters  of 
the  lake,  their  number  being  estimated  as  high  as  one  hundred  and 
fifty.  The  natural  developmnt  of  the  lake  region  as  a  summer 
resort  will  make  these  craft  much  more  common. 

Tn  the  old  days  the  lake  traffic  was  the  main  dependence  cf  the 
town  for  supplies  from  the  outside  world.  The  old  resident  can 
remember  when  the  "Lady"  lay  outside  Sewall's  Point  waiting 
for  the  ice  to  leave  the  bay  in  the  spring.  In  the  autumn,  naviga- 
tion lasted  in  many  cases  until  the  steamers  had  to  break  ice  to 
reach  their  winter  berths.  A  special  feature  was  the  exporting  of 
Thanksgiving  poultry,  when  as  many  as  twenty-two  tons  have 
been  shipped  from  Wolfeborough,  in  one  consignment,  by  boat. 
All  the  heavy  supplies  needed  by  the  merchants  in  the  winter  were 
ordered  in  advance  and  delivered  by  the  steamers. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

THE  PUBIIC  LANDING — How  JUDGE  SEWALL  DISPOSED  OF  His 
LANDS  IN  WOLFEBOROUGII — SMITH'S  BRIDGE  VILLAGE 
BUILT  ON  His  ORIGINAL  LOT — SQUATTERS  ON  THE  LAND- 
ING—  SEWALL'S  STATEMENT  —  DEVELOPMENT  OF  THE 
NORTH  SHORE. 

THERE  lies  in  the  center  of  Wolfeborough  village,  on  the 
lake  shore,  a  small  parcel  of  land,  now  covered  with  build- 
ings, over  which  there  has  been  more  discussion  and  controversy 
than  any  tract  of  ten  times  its  area  in  town.  This  is  the  so-called 
public  landing,  given  the  public  by  deed  of  Judge  David  Sewall. 

When,  in  1766,  the  land  in  Wolfeborough  belonging  to  the 
twenty-four  town  proprietors,  as  joint  owners,  was  divided  in 
severalty,  lot  number  sixteen  fell  to  David  Sewall,  attorney-at-law, 
of  Portsmouth.  It  lay  on  both  sides  of  a  portion  of  Smith's  River 
and  of  Wolfeborough  bay,  the  shore-line  bordering  a  large  portion 
of  the  waters  of  the  latter.  The  lot  contained  four  hundred  and 
forty  acres,  two-thirds  of  which  was  situated  on  the  northwesterly 
side  of  the  river  and  bay. 

The  portion  of  the  lot  on  the  southeast  side  of  the  river  ad- 
joined Daniel  Treadwell's  lot,  number  fourteen.  The  line  between 
the  two  lots  extended  from  a  point  near  the  main  road  to  Lake 
Winnipesaukee,  an  estimated  distance  of  two  hundred  and  twelve 
rods.  The  north-easterly  line  ran  nearly  in  the  direction  of  the 
main  road  to  what  is  now  Pickering's  Corner ;  thence  in  the  same 
line  east  of  the  site  of  the  shoe  factories  to  Smith's  River ;  thence 
by  the  river,  bay  and  lake  shores  to  the  point  where  the  south- 
eastern line  reached  the  lake. 

On  this  lot  is  built  most  of  that  portion  of  Wolfeborough  vil- 
lage which  is  known  as  Smith's  Bridge.  The  southeasterly  part 
516 


HISTORY  OF   WOLFEBOROUGH. 


517 


of  this  lot  was  sub-divided  by  the  Miles  or  Main  road ;  that  on 
the  south  side  of  the  road  adjoined  Lake  Winnipesaukee  and  con- 
tained one  hundred  and  forty  acres,  that  on  the  north  side  of  the 
highway,  one-tenth  as  much.  Each  division  was  a  triangle  in 
shape. 

These  lands  were  thus  disposed  of  by  Mr.  Sewall : 

August  30,  1769,  one  year  after  the  settlement  of  the  town,  he 
deeded  to  John  Sinkler  a  tract  thus  bounded :  Beginning  at  the 
northeast  corner  of  his  proprietary  lot  and  extending  northwest 
sixty-five  rods  ;  thence,  carrying  that  width  to  the  lake,  a  distance 
of  two  hundred  and  twelve  rods ;  the  amount  of  land  conveyed 
being  eighty-six  acres,  more  or  less,  the  consideration  for  which 
was  thirty  pounds  and  two  shillings.  This  land  is  now  apparently 
in  possession  of  Greenleaf  B.  Clark. 

In  1777  Sewall  conveyed  to  Moses  Varney  the  fourteen-acre 
lot  on  the  northeast  side  of  the  highway.  In  1791  this  lot  reverted 
to  him,  being  conveyed  by  Henry  Rust,  administrator  of  the 
estate  of  Matthew  S.  Parker.  March  28,  1793,  he  deeded  the  same 
to  Samuel  Leavitt,  its  boundaries  being  thus  described :  Begin- 
ning at  a  stake  on  the  country  road,  about  twelve  rods  distant 
from  Smith's  Bridge  ;  thence  by  said  road  southeasterly  about 
nineteen  chains  (76  rods)  to  the  road  leading  to  the  Mills  ;  thence 
northeast  or  thereabouts,  twenty-four  chains  (96  rods)  by  the 
Mill  lot  to  Smith's  River ;  thence  by  the  river  and  a  right  line  to 
the  stake  first  mentioned,  which  leaves  a  small  piece  of  land  to  the 
northwest.  On  this  lot  was  a  small  house  and  barn  in  the  pos- 
session of  Moses  Varney,  represented  as  a  tenant. 

At  the  same  time  (1793)  Sewall  deeded  to  Leavitt  a  piece  of 
land  thus  bounded:  "Northeasterly,  by  the  road  leading  over 
Smith's  Bridge,  southeasterly  by  land  deeded  to  Sinkler,  south- 
westerly by  the  Pond"  (meaning  the  lake) — "a  triangle,  reserv- 
ing so  much  of  the  land  at  the  angle  at  Smith's  Bridge,  adjoining 
said  Pond,  as  may  be  necessary  for  a  convenient  landing  for  the 
inhabitants  of  Wolfeborough  and  others  who  may  hereafter  have 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


occasion  to  make  use  of  the  same  for  that  purpose."  This  tract 
contained  fifty-three  acres,  more  or  less,  and  included  the  land 
now  owned  by  Brewster  Free  Academy  (some  forty  acres),  the 
Pavilion  lot,  and  all  other  land  lying  between  South  Main  Street 
and  Wolfeborough  bay,  to  the  bridge. 

The  portion  of  his  lot  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  and  bay, 
about  two  hundred  and  ninety  acres,  was  sold  to  William  Rogers 
in  1779  for  four  pounds  of  spring  beaver  fur.  It  was  long  in 
possession  of  the  Rogers  family.  The  Sewall  Point  lot  and  a  strip 
of  land  ten  rods  wide,  extending  from  the  Main  road  to  the  lake, 
eventually  came  into  the  possession  of  Samuel  Nowell. 

The  Public  Landing  was  not  a  conveyance,  but  a  reservation. 
It  was  originally  the  property  of  Mr.  Sewall,  and  he  made  the 
reservation  not  exclusively  for  the  benefit  of  the  corporation  it- 
self, or  for  any  member  of  it,  but  for  the  general  public.  It  is 
doubtful  if,  after  he  made  the  declaration,  he  retained  any  personal 
claim  on  it.  It  was  as  free  as  the  waters  of  Lake  Winnipesaukee 
or  the  breeze  that  ripples  its  surface.  The  town  had  no  property 
rights  in  it,  except  perhaps  those  of  a  custodian,  whose  duty  it 
was  to  protect  the  rights  of  the  public.  No  individual  certainly 
had  any  personal  right  to  any  portion  of  it,  and  all  claims  of  per- 
sons who  originally  seized  the  property  were  based  on  false 
premises.  If,  by  his  public  declaration  Sewall  had  not  disposed 
of  all  his  rights  to  the  landing,  the  fee  simple  remained  with  him 
and  certain  selected  heirs.  His  own  heir  to  it  was  his  widow, 
whom  he  constituted  his  residuary  legatee,  and  her  heirs  were 
Paul  Langdon  and  his  wife  Elizabeth,  her  niece,  whom  she  made 
her  residuary  legatees,  and  their  rights  were  conveyed  to  the 
town  of  Wolfeborough  in  1849  by  a  quit-claim  deed.  No  other 
heir  of  Judge  Sewall  could  make  a  valid  conveyance  of  the  land- 
ing to  any  person,  as  they  had  no  legal  claim  to  it.  Hence,  their 
conveyances  are  valueless. 

The  first  person  who  squatted  on  the  landing  was  James 
Brackett.  On  it  he  erected  a  cabinet-maker's  shop,  which  was 


HISTORY   OF   WOLFEBOROUGH. 


519 


subsequently  removed.  Brackett  disposed  of  his  claim  to  another 
party,  by  whom  it  was  occupied  until  again  conveyed.  Divers 
persons  have  at  sundry  times  seized  portions  of  the  landing  and 
disposed  of  their  claims  to  others,  until,  with  the  exception  of  a 
strip  perhaps  thirty  feet  wide,  the  whole  landing  is  in  the  posses- 
sion of  persons  or  corporations. 

Judge  Sewall  could  not  have  anticipated  the  uses  to  which  the 
landing  would  be  put.  It  was  then  very  convenient  for  a  high- 
way watering  place,  being  the  only  one  on  the  Main  road  be- 
tween Meserve  Brook  and  Mink  Brook,  and  was  used  for  lard 
ing  boats  in  summer  and  teaming  in  winter.  He  delighted  in 
visiting  it  on  his  occasional  tours  to  Wolfeborough  in  company 
with  his  close  friend,  Dr.  A.  R.  Cutter.  They  were  accustomed 
to  make  their  stay  at  Col.  Henry  Rust's,  and  on  a  pleasant  day 
the  trio  would  ride  on  horseback  to  the  landing  in  dignified  order ; 
first.  Judge  Sewall,  then.  Dr.  Cutter,  and  last,  Col.  Rust.  They 
would  drive  into  shoal  water  for  the  comfort  of  their  horses  and 
leisurely  view  the  beautiful  bay  and  the  attractive  scenery  sur- 
rounding it. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  last  century  the  landing  was  claimed 
by  the  town,  and  several  times  agents  were  appointed  to  clear  it 
of  incumbrances,  but  nothing  was  done  in  this  line.  In  - 
Moses  Thompson  obtained  of  Judge  Sewall's  widow  a  quit-claim 
deed  of  the  property.  Mr.  Thompson  appointed  John  M.  Brackett 
and  Blake  Folsom  a  committee  to  act  with  him,  and  they  disposed 
of  their  rights  to  the  Winnipesaukee  Steamboat  Company.  This 
company  was  absorbed  by  the  Concord  &  Montreal  railroad,  the 
railroad,  in  turn,  by  the  Boston  &  Maine  railroad,  and  the  present 
occupants  hold  the  land  on  lease  from  that  corporation. 

A  deed  is  on  record  showing  that  Jonas  W.  Yarney  bought  of 
George  Piper,  for  forty  dollars,  a  half-acre  of  land  extending  from 
the  land  of  Samuel  A  very  to  the  landing,  October  14,  1823. 

This  question  of  the  ownership  of  the  landing  is  a  complicated 
one.  The  matter  has  been  much  agitated  in  recent  years  ;  many 


520 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


protests  have  been  made  regarding  the  construction  of  fences,  etc., 
and  it  is  not  improbable  that  action  will  be  taken  in  the  neiar 
future,  looking  toward  some  settlement  of  the  matter.  In  this  con- 
nection we  give  verbatim  et  Literatim  a  statement  made  by  Judge 
Sewall  in  1808,  over  his  own  signature,  to  Henry  Rust.  This 
paper  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Albert  B.  Rust : 

"With  respect  to  the  reservation  mentioned  in  a  Deed  I  made 
to  Mr.  Leavitt  of  about  Fifty  three  acres  of  land  in  Wolf-borough 
on  the  S.  West  side  of  the  Road  there,  adjoining  Smith's  Bridge 
so  called,  made  and  executed  in  1793  after  viewing  the  place  in 
1800,  and  perusing  a  Copy  of  the  description  of  the  land,  said  to 
be  taken  from  a  Record  of  the  Deed  The  whole  of  the  Ground 
(which  now  appears  to  be  Sand)  between  the  Road,  and  the 
Waters  of  the  Wenesepocky  Pond,  and  are  supposed  to  be  about 
Twenty  Rods  in  length,  from  Smith's  Bridge  South  Easterly, 
was  my  Original  intention  to  be  reserved  for  a  convenient  landing 
Place. 

With  respect  to  the  exception,  from  the  Triangular  piece  of 
about  14  Acre  conveyed  to  said  Leavett  in  the  same  Deed  of  1793. 
I  find  that  in  1777  the  same  was  surveyed  prior  to  making  a  Deed 
thereof  to  Moses  Varney  a  Tanner  and  Shoemaker.  Varney  en- 
tered and  improved  it,  in  his  own  Right  or  as  a  Tenant,  until  the 
year  1791,  When  it  came  to  me  again  by  Deed  from  Col  H.  Rust, 
as  Admin,  of  the  Estate  of  Matthew  S.  Parker.  .  .  The  place 
where  Varney's  Tan  Vatts,  were  made  and  used,  near  the  margin 
of  Smith's  River,  I  always  supposed  were  within  ;  and  a  part  of  the 
14  Acres  said  Varney  purchased  of  me.  That  the  straight  line 
from  the  Stake  (mentioned  as  the  place  begun  at  to  describe  the 
same  land)  would  strike  Smith  River  at  or  very  near,  said  Var- 
ney's Tan  Vatts:  And  the  small  piece  reserved  from  the  said  14 
Acres,  was  to  adjoin  Smith's  Bridge  was  not  supposed  to  exceed 
half  an  Acre  in  quantity  At  the  time  Leavit's  Deed  was  made 
(1793)  as  Well  as  in  1777,  when  Varney  first  purchased,  the 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


521 


Waters  of  the  Pond  were  much  lower  than  when  I  viewed  the 

place  in  Oct.  1800. 

David  Sewall" 

The  development  of  the  Sewall-Rogers  lands  on  the  northerly 
side  of  the  bay  within  a  decade  has  been  remarkable.  The  land 
was  purchased  by  Messrs.  Charles  F.  Piper  and  George  A.  Car- 
penter, and  is  now  practically  covered  with  handsome  summer 
residences.  The  pioneer  in  this  movement  was  Colonel  Edward 
B.  Dickinson,  of  New  York,  who  had  visited  Wolfeborough  an- 
nually for  several  years  and  had  become  impressed  with  the  ad- 
vantages of  the  place  as  a  permanent  summer  home.  He  pur- 
chased a  lot  of  ten  acres,  with  a  water  front  of  nearly  six  hundred 
feet.  Here  he  erected  in  1889  an  attractive  residence,  "Ferncliffe," 
or  thirteen  rooms,  with  a  wind-mill,  bath-house,  boat-house  and 
several  summer  houses,  about  the  grounds.  A  stone  wharf,  one 
hundred  and  forty  feet  long,  affords  ample  dock  facilities.  The 
high  standard  fortunately  set  by  Colonel  Dickinson  in  the  first 
house  built  on  what  is  now  Sewall  road,  has  been  to  a  good  degree 
maintained  by  the  numerous  cottagers  that  have  succeeded  him. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

THE  HARLY  HOMES  OF  THE  SETTLERS — METHODS  OF  BUILDING  IN 
VOGUE — JOHN  LARY'S  WIFE  A  TRUE  HELPMEET — TWO- 
STORY  HOUSES  OF  SEVENTY-FIVE  YEARS  AGO — ITEMS  OF  IN- 
TEREST ABOUT  THEM — HOLIDAYS  OF  OUR  FATHERS — THE 
COUNTRY  STORE  AS  A  RESORT — TOWN  MEETING,  ITS  SERI- 
OUS AND  SPORTIVE  SIDE — INDEPENDENCE  DAY — THE 
GLORIES  OF  MUSTER. 

THE  first  shelters  of  the  settlers  were  rude  huts  of  logs,  de- 
signed for  temporary  occupancy.  Log  cabins  intended  for 
more  permanent  homes  were  constructed  on  more  commodious 
lines,  the  walls  being  ceiled  and  partitioned.  Board  floors  were 
laid,  brick  fire-places  and  ovens  were  constructed,  and  doors  and 
windows  built.  It  was  one  of  these  latter  buildings  in  which  Ben- 
jamin Blake  lived  for  the  first  eighteen  years  of  his  married  life. 
The  same  kind  of  dwelling  served  for  Joseph  Lary,  whose  buxom 
wife  carried  the  roof  boards  for  their  home  on  her  head  from 
Smith's  River  to  the  site  of  the  house,  near  the  present  dwelling 
of  Benjamin  Webster.  Fortunately  for  the  early  pioneers,  a  saw- 
mill was  established  on  the  falls  of  Smith's  River  before  a  settler 
arrived,  and  another  was  soon  built  near  the  Wentworth  farm. 
The  first  dwelling  erected  in  Wolfeborough,  if  we  except  the 
Walter  Bryant  camp,  on  Mink  Brook,  was  the  Mill  house  situated 
near  the  garden  of  Roscoe  M.  Flanders.  This  house  was  con- 
structed of  sawed  lumber. 

The  houses  of  the  settlers  varied  in  the  manner  of  their  con- 
struction.   A  very  few  had  but  a  single  room,  others  had  but  two, 
some  had  an  oven  built  outside.    A  quite  common  style  of  abode 
was  the  ''half-house,'  which  consisted  of  one  large  living-room 

and  one  or  two  smaller  rooms.    The  chimney  was  placed  near  the 
522 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


523 


outside  wall,  with  two  and  sometimes  three  fireplaces.  Except 
the  one  in  use,  these  fireplaces  faced  the  wall.  If  prosperity  pre- 
vailed, and  the  family  increased  (as  it  usually  did),  additional 
rooms  were  built  on,  and  these  fireplaces  were  utilized. 

During  the  last  of  the  eighteenth  and  the  first  of  the  nineteenth 
centuries  quite  a  number  of  two-story  houses  were  erected. 
Among  them  were  the  Isaiah  Home  house,  Col.  Copp's  tavern. 
the  Andrew  Wiggin,  Jonathan  Blake,  Joseph  Edmonds,  Daniel 
Wiggin,  Meader,  Tebbetts,  Bassett,  Lucas,  Varney,  and  Rogers 
houses ;  the  Jewett  tavern,  to  which  Richard  Rust  added  the 
second  story ;  the  Mason  house,  on  the  site  of  the  Durgin  building, 
but  since  removed  to  the  corner  of  Glendon  and  School  Streets ; 
the  John  Pickering  tavern,  now  the  Rollins  house ;  the  Samuel 
Avery  house  ;  the  Guppy  house  ;  the  Hart  house,  now  the  residence 
of  Mrs.  George  W.  Furber ;  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Jethro  Furber, 
which  was  built  on  the  ten-acre  Sewall  strip  by  Samuel  Nowcll, 
and  moved  across  the  bay  on  the  ice  by  Stephen  Coffin ;  the  old 
store,  changed  into  the  Joseph  Farrar  residence,  and  afterwards 
into  the  Manning  boarding-house,  later  removed  to  Union  Street ; 
the  Daniel  Brewster  house,  the  Henry  Rust,  afterwards  the  Parker 
house,  now  burned  ;  the  Henry  Rust,  Jr.  and  Richard  Rust  houses 
at  South  Wolfeborough ;  the  Joseph  Furber  house  in  Pleasant 
Valley ;  the  houses  of  Elijah  and  Jonathan  Hersey  at  Pine  Hill ; 
the  Isaac  Edmonds  house  at  Wolfeborough  Falls ;  the  Allen  par- 
sonage (with  oaken  frame),  now  owned  by  J.  Frank  Chamber- 
lain, at  Wolfeborough  Center ;  the  houses  built  by  James  P.  and 
Henry  Home,  now  occupied  by  Frank  B.  Home  and  Samuel 
Reynolds ;  the  Stoddard,  Isaac  Martin,  and  George  Whitton 
houses,  the  last  burned  :  the  Aaron  Roberts  and  Thomas  J.  Tib- 
betts  houses  at  North  Wolfeborough.  Possibly  other  two-story 
houses  were  built  in  town  more  than  seventy-five  years  ago. 

The  following  facts  regarding  old  houses  in  town  are  gathered 
from  various  sources  : — 

James  Lucas's  house  was  where  Gate's  block  now  stands. 


524 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFE  BO  ROUGH. 


Charles  Thurston's  house  was  the  ell  of  Moses  Thompson's 
house. 

Charles  Thurston's  cooper  shop  is  the  ell  of  Charles  \V.  Gil- 
man's  house. 

John  Lucas's  house  was  a  part  of  the  Richard  Davis  house.  Dr. 
Blaisdell  renovated  it. 

Jeremiah  Norris  Taylor  had  a  house  opposite  the  Guppy  house. 

Moses  Seavey  lived  opposite  the  George  W.  Furber  house. 
Seavey  once  occupied  the  farm  in  North  Wolfeborough  now 
owned  by  George  Morgan.  The  brook  near  the  farm  is  still  called 
the  Seavey  Brook. 

Samuel  Connor,  a  son  of  James  Connor,  lived  near  the  Brews- 
ter  Lane. 

Daniel' Brewster  lived  at  the  end  of  the  lane  and  owned  five 
hundred  acres  of  excellent  land.  His  brother  George  had  an 
equal  amount,  both  farms  constituting  the  "King"  lot. 

The  Henry  W.  Furber  house  was  the  original  Daniel  Brewster 
house. 

James  Connor  settled  on  the  Tetherly  place.  Jeremiah,  his  son, 
occupied  it,  and  after  him  Eliphus  Wiggin. 

The  John  H.  Rust  house  was  built  by  Joseph  Edmonds  from 
rough  to  finish  ;  including  setting  of  glass,  etc.,  for  one  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars.  William  Kent  built  the  Enoch  Clark  house, 

The  Severance  house  was  the  John  Warren  house.  Samuel 
Leavitt,  Dr.  Chapman,  and  Dr.  Edgerly  have  all  lived  there. 

Joseph  Smith's  store  stood  where  Charles  F.  Piper's  house  is. 
It  is  now  the  dwelling  of  Rev.  Mark  Stevens. 

John  L.  Piper's  house  stood  on  the  site  of  Charles  F.  Parker's 
dwelling.  Moses  Piper,  Dr.  Perkins.  Dr.  Lary,  and  Dr.  Hall 
lived  there. 

Joseph  Clark  built  the  house  he  lived  in,  now  occupied  by 
Greenleaf  B.  Clark.  He  was  a  manufacturer  of  furniture. 

Deacon  Rust's  store  was  built  by  Nathaniel  Rogers. 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


525 


Samuel  and  John  L.  Piper's  store  stood  where  the  Bank  Build- 
ing is. 

The  Pickering-Rollins  house  is  the  oldest  in  the  village.  The 
nails  in  it  are  hand-made  and  the  laths  are  rived. 

Jeremiah  Libbey's  house  was  in  the  Belvue  House  garden. 

After  the  establishment  of  retail  stores  in  Wolfeborough  it  be- 
came the  practice  with  many  of  the  adult  population  to  make  a 
half-holiday  of  Saturday  afternoon.  They  would  then  visit  these 
emporiums,  make  necessary  purchases,  swap  news,  and,  we  fear, 
imbibe  mixed  grog.  The  people  of  Wolfeborough,  in  common 
with  other  New  England  towns,  observed  five  holidays  annually. 
These  were  Town  Meeting,  Fast  Day,  Independence  Day, 
Muster,  and  Thanksgiving.  The  Christmas  festival  was  looked 
upon  by  many  in  those  times  as  a  survival  of  popery  and  was  little 
countenanced. 

At  first  New  Hampshire  selected  the  first  Tuesday  in  March  for 
the  annual  election  day  ;  later,  the  time  was  changed  to  the  second 
Tuesday,  as  at  present.  Jeffersonianism,  Republicanism,  or  the 
intensive  modification  of  it,  Jacksonian  democracy,  generally  pre- 
vailed in  Wolfeborough  during  the  first  half  of  the  last  century. 
The  Federalists  and  Whigs  were  greatly  in  the  minority.  There 
were  no  party  caucuses  nor  any  nominations  announced  in  ad- 
vance. Seldom,  even,  were  ballots  prepared.  Ready  penmen 
would  write  them  as  wanted  at  the  meeting,  and  would  prepare 
them  as  cheerfully  for  one  side  as  the  other.  The  contests  were 
often  sharp,  on  one  occasion  eight  ballotings  being  required  for 
the  last  selectman.  Of  course  some  questionable  tricks  were 
played  but,  the  boss  had  not  then  come  into  vogue. 

Until  the  meeting-house  was  built  in  1792,  the  town  meetings 
were  held  in  private  dwellings,  made  quasi-public  by  a  license  to 
sell  spirits.  The  Mill  house,  which  stood  near  the  garden  of 
Roscoe  M.  Flanders  at  Wolfeborough  Falls  was  the  last  building 
so  occupied.  While  the  meeting-house  remained  as  originally 
constructed,  and  after  its  transformation  into  a  town-house,  until 


526 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


the  building  of  Brewster  Memorial  Hall,  it  was  the  only  place 
where  the  citizens  met  to  transact  their  legal  town  business.  Al- 
though centrally  situated,  it  was  in  a  sparsely  settled  district  where 
those  who  came  from  a  distance  could  with  difficulty  obtain  re- 
freshment. 

Many  of  the  voters  took  pocket  lunches  with  them,  which  were 
in  a  manner  supplemented  by  cold  boiled  eggs  and  home-made 
molasses  candy  peddled  by  boys,  and  the  mute  baker,  Willand, 
endeavored  to  persuade  his  sceptical  customers  that  the  dry 
ginger  bread  he  offered  was  "baked  that  morning."  New  rum 
could  be  obtained  at  three  cents  a  glass.  In  later  years  appetizing 
food  was  served  in  booths  erected  on  the  grounds,  a  bowl  of  hot 
stewed  oysters  and  a  steaming  mug  of  coffee  forming  an  im- 
portant part  of  the  popular  repast. 

Wrestling  was  a  common  sport  at  these  town  meetings. 
Champions  from  different  sections  of  the  town  were  pitted  against 
each  other.  The  bouts  were  interesting  and  not  altogether  un- 
scientific. "Collar-and-elbow"  and  "side-hugs"  were  the  favorite 
holds,  and  the  supporters  of  the  champions  successful  in  either 
.  style  would  claim  that  the  other  method  "wasn't  wrestling  at  all." 
So  engaged  did  the  crowd  become  in  these  contests,  that  some- 
times the  moderator  was  compelled  to  send  a  messenger  to  remind 
the  voters  that  business  was  waiting  them  on  the  inside  of  the 
town-house. 

On  Fast  Day  a  large  portion  of  the  people  attended  divine 
worship  in  the  morning.  In  the  afternoon,  weather  permitting, 
the  first  ball  game  of  the  season  was  played,  as  is  the  custom  to- 
day. 

July  Fourth,  the  masculine  element  resorted  to  the  village, 
where,  unless  an  orator  and  some  special  observance  had  been 
provided,  they  waxed  patriotic  over  their  punch,  while  the  youths 
burned  powder  and  ignited  explosives  with  zest.  A  few  women 
occasionally  appeared  on  the  scene,  but  only  as  spectators.  Cory- 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH.  527 

don  and  Phyllis  foraging  for  ice-cream  and  lemonade,  were  a  later 
development  of  the  "glorious  Fourth." 

The  twenty-seventh  regiment  of  New  Hampshire  militia  con- 
sisted of  the  enrolled  soldiers  residing  within  the  towns  of  Effing- 
ham,  Ossipee,  Wakefield,  Brookfield,  Tuftonborough,  and  Wolfe- 
borough,  the  extremities  of  the  district  being  about  thirty  miles 
apart.  The  training  field  was  in  Ossipee,  and  the  muster  was  the 
gala  occasion  of  the  year.  Everybody  who  could,  went ;  the  ro- 
bust young  or  middle-aged  man  was  there  by  a  requirement  of 
the  law ;  the  older  men  and  the  youths  went  to  indulge  in  retro- 
spect or  to  strive  to  emulate ;  the  wives  and  sisters  were  there  be- 
cause their  husbands  and  brothers  were.  Brave  was  the  show 
made  by  the  gaily  uniformed  troops,  intricate  were  the  evolutions 
and  bold  the  hazards  of  the  sham  battle ;  with  bugles  blowing,  fifes 
screaming,  and  drums  beating,  what  enemy  could  stand  before 
them? 

The  towns  furnished  the  militiamen  both  liquid  and  solid 
rations.  Venders  at  booths  supplied  the  civilian  crowd  with  the 
same,  and  at  least  as  many  were  worsted  by  their  devotion  to 
Gambrinus  as  fell  by  the  assault  of  the  enemy.  Footsore  and 
weary,  soldier  and  citizen  arrived  home  at  a  late  hour  of  the  night, 
affirming,  however,  that  town-meeting  bustle  and  Independence 
Day  glories  paled  before  the  spectacular  wonders  of  Fall  Train- 
ing. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

ITEMS  OF  INTEREST — BONUS  PAID  TO  TAKE  THE  INVENTORY — 
WHIPPING  POST — ORIGIN  OF  SHAD  IN  THE  LAKE — BIG 
STORM  OF  1816 — BILL  FOR  BURYING  A  PAUPER — HOT  PO- 
LITICAL FRAYS — TOWN  SURVEYED — THOMAS  CHASE'S  WALL 
— FIRST  CARRIAGE,  UMBRELLA,  AND  CIDER-MILL — A  BIG 
TAVERN  BILL — CHANGES  AROUND  LAKE  FRONT — Two 
FAMOUS  APPLES. 

IN  1789  the  town  voted  to  let  the  taking  of  the  inventory  to  the 
lowest  bidder,  and  the  privilege  was  struck  off  to  John  Home 
for  eight  shillings.  There  seems  to  have  been  at  this  time  con- 
siderable competition  for  the  berth.  William  Cotton  the  follow- 
ing year  offered  to  pay  eight  shillings  per  £100  collected.  In 
1791,  however,  the  town  excused  him  from  paying  this  bonus,  and 
he  simply  did  the  work  without  financial  reward. 

At  the  town-meeting  in  1810  it  was  voted  to  kill  all  dogs  within 
town  limits,  also  to  pay  a  bounty  of  ten  cents  for  all  crows  killed. 
Evidently  the  farmers  had  been  suffering  from  marauders  both 
in  pasture  and  field.  It  is  doubtful  if  the  decree  against  the  canines 
was  very  strictly  enforced  except,  perhaps,  in  the  case  of  the 
worthless  "yaller  dog." 

Charles  L.  Home,  who  was  born  November  6,  1828,  says  he 
recollects  distinctly  seeing  a  man  whipped  at  a  whipping-post, 
when  a  young  boy.  He  describes  the  whipper  as  being  a  thick- 
set man.  The  culprit  did  not  seem  to  mind  the  punishment  at 
first,  but,  as  the  handler  of  the  rod  warmed  to  his  work,  he  howled 
with  pain  and  made  ineffectual  efforts  to  free  himself.  A  man 
standing  near  characterized  the  punishment  as  an  outrage,  but 
was  quieted  by  the  suggestion  that  he  was  making  himself  liable 
to  the  same  treatment.  Some  girls  who  had  been  insulted  by  the 

5*8 


HISTORY   OF   WOLFEBOROUGH.  529 

man  at  the  post  expressed  their  unqualified  approval  of  the  pro- 
ceedings and  were  likewise  admonished.  Mr.  Home's  memory 
fails  to  locate  the  situation  of  this  instrument  of  punishment. 

In  1796  taxes  were  as  follows:  town,  $62.50;  county,  $12.23; 
school,  $90.00;  minister,  $166.67. 

In  1798  at  the  auditing  of  the  town  accounts  the  expenses  for 
the  day  were  four  shillings ;  for  rum  for  the  day  three  and  one- 
half  shillings. 

Corn  and  rye  for  taxes  were  generally  delivered  at  the  houses 
of  William  Rogers  and  William  Triggs. 

In  1799  Samuel  Leavitt,  the  grandfather  of  Samuel  Leavitt 
who  now  occupies  the  machine  shop  in  Wolfeborough  Falls,  re- 
moved a  stone  which  was  in  the  highway  between  his  house, 
since  known  as  the  Banfield  place,  and  Smith's  Bridge  at  a  cost 
to  the  town  of  twenty  dollars.  This  stone  was  probably  located 
near  the  Brewster  farm.  The  price  paid  for  its  removal,  con- 
sidering the  low  wages  of  that  time,  indicates  that  it  was  a  serious 
obstruction  to  travel. 

In  the  spawning  season,  before  the  Merrimac  was  so  effectually 
dammed,  the  salmon  and  shad  came  up  the  river  together  in  the 
spawning  season.  At  the  junction  of  the  Pemigewassett  and 
Winnipesaukee  Rivers  they  parted  company;  the  shad  making 
their  way  to  the  lake,  the  salmon  keeping  up  the  Pemigewassett. 
The  descendants  of  these  shad  are  now  caught  in  large  numbers 
during  the  winter  season. 

Until  1804  there  was  no  tax  for  breaking  paths  through  the 
snow,  but  any  person  who  refused  to  assist,  when  called  upon  by 
the  surveyor,  was  liable  to  a  fine  of  three  shillings  for  himself,  and 
the  same  amount  for  each  yoke  of  oxen  owned  by  him.  In  1811 
a  winter  highway  tax  equal  to  the  summer  tax  was  assessed. 

The  late  venerable  Robert  Wiggin  told  that  in  1816  the  ground 
was  bare  until  the  month  of  March,  when  there  fell  in  one  storm 
four  feet  of  snow.  Only  fourteen  persons  reached  the  town-house 
on  election  day.  The  following  season  was  very  cold.  Snow  fell 


530 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


on  the  sixth  day  of  June  and  frost  appeared  every  month  in  the 
year.  No  sound  corn  was  raised.  This  important  cereal  was  hard 
to  obtain  at  two  dollars  a  bushel.  Some  thrifty  farmers  who  had 
a  store  on  hand  refused  to  sell  except  to  the  needy.  A  day's  work 
was  the  price  of  a  peck  of  frost-bitten  corn. 

In  1791  the  wages  of  town  officials  and  laborers  were  the  same, 
fifty  cents  per  day. 

In  1787  the  town  officers  were  elected  by  a  poll  vote. 

Bill  for  burying  a  pauper  in  1821 :  "Digging  a  grave,  $1.00; 
coffin,  $1.50;  winding  sheet  and  grave  clothes,  $2.50;  spirits  and 
candles,  $2.00;  trouble  and  attendance,  $2.75." 

The  town  ceased  to  elect  tithing-men  in  1825. 

Elections  in  the  "good  old  days"  were  hotly  contested.  In  1845 
there  were  nine  candidates  for  first  representative,  and  three  bal- 
lots were  necessary  for  a  choice.  At  the  same  meeting  there  were 
fourteen  candidates  for  first  selectman  and  two  ballotings ;  twelve 
candidates  for  second  selectman  and  two  ballotings ;  forty  candi- 
dates for  third  selectman  and  eight  ballotings. 

The  town  was  surveyed  in  1803  by  Isaiah  Home,  a  state  requisi- 
tion. Home's  bill  was  a  hundred  and  one  dollars. 

In  1819  the  town  voted  not  to  allow  horses,  cattle,  sheep,  and 
swine  to  run  at  large  in  the  winter  season. 

Thomas  Chase  built  two  thousand  rods  of  good  stone  wall  on 
his  farm  which  was  situated  near  New  Durham  town  line.  Much 
of  this  wall  is  still  standing  in  fine  condition. 

The  large  elm  which  stands  near  the  Dudley  Hardy  house  was 
carried  and  set  out  there  by  Isaac  Poor  in  1799. 

It  is  said  that  Daniel  Raynard,  who  was  for  some  years  owner 
of  the  Wentworth  Farm,  possessed  a  pleasure  carriage.  The  first 
chaise  was  owned  by  Richard  Rust.  Its  body  was  square  and 
painted  yellow  with  red  stripes.  A  portion  of  it  is  still  in  the 
possession  of  Horace  B.  Rust.  The  first  bellows-topped  chaise 
was  probably  purchased  by  Samuel  Avery  and  sold  by  him  to 
John  Pickering.  In  1817  Richard  Rust,  John  Pickering,  and 


HISTORY   OF   WOLFEBOROUGH. 


531 


Joseph  Varney  were  each  taxed  for  a  chaise.  Jacob  Home  was 
the  owner  of  the  first  wagon  in  town.  Portions  of  it  are  still  in 
the  possession  of  his  grandson,  Frank  B.  Home.  Mrs.  Richard 
Rust  owned  the  first  umbrella.  James  Connor  built  the  first  cider- 
mill. 

Following  is  James  Connor's  account  for  the  expenses  of  the 
selectmen  for  the  year  1779-80: — 

To  9  meals  victuals  £8 :2  :o 
"    5  bowls  toddy  3  :o  :o 

'    6  meals  victuals  8 :8  :o 

"    3  bowls  toddy  3  13  :o 

Feb.   i  '    3  meals  victuals  4:10:0 

Cyder  I  :i6 

This  rate  of  £i  :25s  per  meal  seems  rather  stiff  for  those — or 
any  other — times.  Were  the  town  fathers  bon  vivants,  or  was 
the  worthy  Boniface  "on  the  inside?"  The  bill,  however,  is  in 
existence,  and  figures  are  proverbially  truthful. 

A  "potash"  was  in  very  early  times  located  in  the  garden  of  the 
Belvue  House,  and  another  where  J.  L.  Young's  store  is  now 
situated. 

Piper's  store,  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  Bank  Building, 
projected  out  over  the  water,  so  that  boats  could  be  loaded  there. 
All  the  land  between  this  building  and  the  river  has  been  made. 

About  1800  there  was  a  long  one-story  building  where  Swett's 
hardware  store  stands.  The  bridge  was  some  five  feet  further 
up  stream  then  and  not  so  elevated  as  at  present.  There  was  a 
shoal  along  where  the  wharves  are  that  was  undoubtedly  included 
in  Sevvall's  gift. 

Two  varieties  of  apples  were  common  in  the  old  days.  They 
were  the  "Farm  Sweet,"  an  oval  red  apple  of  rather  ordinary 
flavor  that  grew  on  the  Governor's  Farm  and  the  "Durgin 
Apple."  This  latter  was  a  medium-sized,  sour,  red  fruit,  excellent 
for  cooking,  but  would  not  today  be  considered  a  fine  table  apple : 
It  is  doubtful  if  either  of  these  apples  are  grown  today. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

OLD  TIME  CUSTOMS — How  THE  SETTLER  PREPARED  AND  CULTI- 
VATED HIS  LAND — SPINNING  AND  WEAVING — FOOD  AND 
CLOTHING — How  THEY  "DROVE"  TREES — GAME  OF  ALL 
KINDS  PLENTIFUL — STIMULANTS  NOT  FROWNED  UPON — 
THE  PIONEER'S  AXE — PLAIN  LIVING  AND  HIGH  THINK- 
ING. 

THE  early  inhabitants  were  generally  small  farmers,  depend- 
ing mainly  on  the  annual  products  of  their  farms  for  their 
sustenance.  In  the  winter  some  attention  was  given  to  the  manu- 
facture of  staves  and  oars,  with  which  a  portion  of  their  groceries 
were  purchased.  The  early  spring  was  devoted  to  sugar-making, 
while  the  principal  part  of  the  summer  season  was  occupied  in 
"clearing  land"  and  raising  crops.  Trees  were  usually  felled  in 
June,  as  then  they  were  in  full  leaf.  The  branches  were  "lopped" 
and  the  trees  left  to  "dry"  for  several  weeks.  They  were  then  set 
on  fire,  and  the  leaves  and  small  branches  burned.  If  it  was  in- 
tended to  put  the  land  into  rye,  the  principal  grain  crop,  the 
scorched  trunks  were  at  once  "cut  up"  and  "piled,"  and  the 
"heaps  burnt  off."  In  piling  and  burning,  the  father  and  sons 
were  frequently  assisted  by  the  female  members  of  the  family,  and 
at  the  close  of  a  day  thus  spent  in  "the  lot"  the  whole  group  would 
have  well  passed  for  "contrabands."  The  ashes  left  from  the 
burning  heaps  were  gathered  and  sold  to  "the  storekeeper,"  who 
had  "a  potash"  connected  with  his  little  grocery.  Sometimes  the 
felled  trees,  after  being  "burned  over,"  were  permitted  to  remain 
until  the  following  spring,  when  they  were  cut,  piled,  and  burnt, 
and  the  land  planted  to  Indian  corn  by  the  method  termed  "under 
the  hoe."  The  farmer  after  removing  a  little  of  the  burnt  surface  of 
the  earth  with  the  hoe,  would  loosen  and  raise  a  small  portion  of 
the  soil ;  at  the  same  moment  a  nimble  boy  or  girl  would  deposit 
532 


MRS.   NANCY  EDGERLY 

(  AT    THE    AGE    OF    105  ) 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROVGH.  533 

a  few  kernels  of  corn  beneath  the  hoe,  and  the  work  of  planting 
was  completed.  The  crop  would  require  little  or  no  care  until  the 
harvest,  but  sometimes  it  would  be  necessary  to  cut  down  a  few 
tender  weeds.  Early  in  the  autumn,  before  gathering  the  corn, 
the  land  was  sown  with  winter  rye,  which  was  "hacked  in"  with 
hoes.  Subsequently  grass  seed  was  sown.  The  harvest  of  rye 
would  come  off  in  July  or  August  of  the  following  year,  leaving 
the  soil,  if  there  had  been  a  "good  catch,"  which  was  usually  the 
case,  well  swarded.  The  hay  crop  the  succeeding  year  was  gen- 
erally very  heavy.  So  rankly  would  it  grow  as  to  render  the  use 
of  the  rake  in  gathering  it  unnecessary. 

Grain  was  threshed  with  flails  in  the  fields  on  plats  of  earth 
rendered  hard  by  beating.  It  was  winnowed  by  being  shaken  in 
a  strong  current  of  air.  That  portion  of  it  mixed  with  the  earth 
was  fed  out  to  swine  or  used  for  seed.  Sometimes  threshing- 
floors  were  built  of  timber  and  boards.  Corn  was  husked  in  the 
open  air,  and  secured  in  corn  cribs  or  small  latticed  buildings. 
Portions  of  the  corn  fodder,  straw,  and  hay  were  deposited  in 
stacks,  the  barns,  or,  more  properly,  hovels,  being  too  small  to 
contain  the  whole.  A  roof  of  split-stuff  or  boards  was  usually 
placed  over  the  stack. 

Wheat,  oats,  and  potatoes  were  but  little  cultivated.  Turnips 
were  a  common  crop.  Flax  was  an  important  product.  It  did  not 
succeed  well  on  "burnt  ground,"  and  it  was  the  custom  with  those 
who  were  making  new  farms  to  hire  it  grown  on  the  ploughed 
lands  of  the  first  settlers.  It  was  harvested  by  being  pulled  from 
the  roots  and  tied  in  small  bundles.  Then,  after  being  exposed 
to  the  sun  for  a  few  days,  the  bolls  were  threshed  to  obtain  the 
seed.  Subsequently  it  was  taken  to  the  field  and  thinly  spread 
upon  the  surface  of  the  ground,  until  the  straw  became  so  much 
rotted  as  to  be  easily  broken.  It  was  then  gathered  into  bundles 
again  and  stored,  where  it  usually  remained  until  the  spring  of  the 
following  year.  March  was  accounted  the  best  month  for  "get- 
ting out  flax."  It  was  first  "broken,"  by  being  repeatedly  beaten 


534 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


in  a  machine  with  wooden  knives,  or  teeth,  called  a  "break,"  until 
the  straw  was  reduced  to  small  fragments,  leaving  its  external 
covering,  a  strong  fibre,  uninjured.  It  was  then  "swingled."  This 
was  done  by  suspending  it  beside  an  upright  board  fixed  in  a 
heavy  log,  and  beating  it  with  a  large  wooden  knife,  until  the 
greater  portion  of  the  shives  and  coarser  fibres  was  removed.  It 
was  then  hackled,  or  combed,  by  being  repeatedly  drawn  through 
a  machine  of  strong  pointed  wires  attached  to  a  wooden  base. 
It  was  sometimes  again  subjected  to  a  similar  process,  a  finer 
instrument  being  used.  What  remained  was  termed  flax ;  that 
which  had  been  removed  by  the  special  processes,  tow,  of  which 
there  were  three  kinds — fine  tow,  coarse  tow,  and  swingle  tow. 
"To  get  out  flax"  required  a  certain  degree  of  skill  and  practice, 
and  persons  who  were  adepts  at  the  business  were  accustomed  to 
go  from  place  to  place  for  that  purpose.  The  manner  of  spinning 
rlax  was  peculiar.  It  was  first  wound  about  a  distaff  made  of  the 
terminating  twigs  of  the  pine  bough,  fastened  together  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  form  a  globular  framework.  This  distaff  was  at- 
tached to  a  small  wheel  called  a  "linen  wheel."  This  was  moved 
by  the  foot,  the  hand  being  employed  in  drawing  out  the  flax,  and 
occasionally  applying  it  to  the  lips  for  the  purpose  of  moistening 
it.  Flax-spinning  furnished  an  opportunity  for  a  class  of  social 
interviews  called  "spinning  bees,"  when  the  women  of  a  neighbor- 
hood would  take  their  wheels  to  one  house  and  spend  the  after- 
noon in  busy  labor  and  talk,  permitting  the  friend  whom  they 
visited  to  have  the  benefit  of  their  toil.  Tow  was  carded  with 
hand-cards,  and  spun  in  a  manner  similar  to  wool.  Swingle  tow 
was  used  in  the  manufacture  of  meal-bags  and  straw  ticks. 
Combed  tow  formed  a  part  of  towels,  coarse  table-covers,  and 
common  outer  garments.  It  was  sometimes  used  for  under  gar- 
ments, in  which  case,  it  is  said,  flesh  brushes  and  hair  mittens 
were  rendered  unnecessary.  Flax  and  wool  were  the  principal 
materials  from  which  were  manufactured  the  cloth  and  clothing 
of  the  family.  Occasionally  small  purchases  of  cotton  would  be 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


535 


made,  but  this  was  very  little  used.  Not  only  was  there  a  supply 
of  cloth  sufficient  for  home  use  manufacture,  but  also  a  little  for 
sale.  Hence,  in  setting  up  housekeeping,  it  was  necessary  to  pro- 
vide the  young  couple  with  a  large  and  a  small  spinning-wheel, 
a  loom,  reeds,  harnesses,  wraping  bars,  spools,  and  quills.  These 
were  regarded  as  matrimonial  fixtures,  and  a  young  woman  was 
not  considered  "fit  to  be  married"  until  she  had  supplied  her 
wardrobe,  dining-room,  and  bed-chamber  with  the  manufactures 
of  her  own  hands. 

Garments  were  made  in  the  family.  Sometimes  a  tailor  would 
be  applied  to  for  the  purpose  of  "cutting  out"  a  coat.  This  was 
usually  the  only  required  aid  from  abroad.  The  rest  of  the  house- 
hold apparel  was  made  by  members  of  the  family.  In  warm 
weather  almost  every  one  went  barefooted.  In  the  autumn  the 
shoemaker  with  his  kit,  consisting  of  a  hammer,  a  strap,  and  a  few 
knives  and  awls  wrapped  up  in  his  leather  apron,  went  from  house 
to  house  for  the  purpose  of  "shoeing"  the  several  families,  his 
employers  furnishing  the  material, — leather,  thread,  and  bristles, 
and  even  the  resin  and  tallow  used  in  maunfacturing  the  wax. 
He  was  also  expected  to  provide  a  lapstone  and  lasts.  If  the 
latter  were  wanting,  blocks  of  wood  were  shaped  to  accomodate 
the  several  members  of  the  family.  The  cordwainer  was  generally 
a  jovial  fellow,  full  of  fun  and  stories,  and  pretty  sure  to  give  the 
unlucky  urchin  who  might  chance  to  stand  near  his  elbow  a  thrust 
in  the  ribs.  Cattle  were  also  frequently  shod  upon  the  farmer's 
premises.  They  were  "cast"  on  beds  of  straw  and  securely  bound, 
their  feet  pointing  upward.  In  this  position  the  shoes  were 
secured. 

Much  of  the  woolen  cloth  designed  for  men's  clothing  was 
woven  with  a  wale,  and  colored  a  yellowish  brown  with  the  bark  of 
the  yellow  oak.  Blue  was  a  color  greatly  in  vogue,  and  an  indigo 
dye-pot  was  found  in  almost  every  chimney-corner.  This  color, 
however,  was  generally  combined  with  some  other  in  the  manu- 


536 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


facture  of  cloth.  A  copperas  color  and  "blue  check"  was  regarded 
as  very  desirable  for  female  attire. 

The  clothing  consisted  principally  of  home  manufactures.  In 
winter  the  men  sometimes  wore  deerskin  garments,  but  more 
frequently  short  woolen  frocks  and  trousers.  In  summer  the 
same  style  was  preserved,  but  the  material  changed,  tow-and-linen 
being  substituted  for  wool.  Holiday  garments  were  made  of  thick 
"full-cloth."  Nearly  every  substantial  citizen  was  the  possessor 
of  a  grayish-white  "great-coat,"  which  lasted  a  lifetime.  Boots 
were  almost  unknown,  shoes  and  buskins  being  worn  in  winter. 
The  buskin  was  simply  a  footless  stocking  fastened  to  the  shoe 
for  the  purpose  of  protecting  the  foot  and  lower  part  of  the  leg 
from  the  snow.  The  "go-to-meeting"  dress  of  a  woman  consisted 
of  a  bonnet  called  a  calash,  which  resembled  a  chaise-top,  a  short, 
loose  gown,  a  skirt,  an  apron,  and  a  handkerchief  fastened  about 
the  neck.  A  hooded  cloak,  usually  of  red  color,  was  worn  in 
winter.  The  stylish  ladies  wore  straw  bonnets  ;  one.  with  an  occa- 
sional bleaching,  would  last  for  a  decade.  They  also  dressed  more 
elaborately  than  the  common  class.  The  vandyke  was  also  worn. 

Shoes,  and  generally  stockings,  were  worn  to  church.  With 
many  it  would  have  been  regarded  as  an  unwarrantable  waste  to 
have  wore  shoes  on  the  way.  They  were  carried  in  the  hand  until 
the  place  of  meeting  was  nearly  reached,  and  then  put  on,  to  be 
taken  off  again  on  the  return.  Some  of  the  more  wealthy  wore 
coarse  shoes  on  the  road,  and  exchanged  them  for  "moroccos" 
when  near  the  church  door.  Such  carefulness  was  necessary  in 
order  that  a  person  might  preserve  suitable  apparel  for  holiday 
occasions,  since  a  young  woman  with  her  weeks'  wages  could  only 
purchase  two  yards  of  common  print.  "Fancy  goods''  bore  a 
corresponding  price. 

The  walls  of  many  of  the  houses  were  constructed  of  logs, 
which,  however,  usually  were  hewn  and  the  interstices  between 
them  filled  with  clay  mortar.  The  better  class  of  the  people  had 
frame-houses  covered  with  rough  boards  and  unpainted.  The 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBORODGH.  537 

interior  was  seldom  completely  finished.  The  rooms  were  sep- 
arated by  a  ceiling  of  boards,  sometimes  planed  and  occasionally 
paneled,  but  more  frequently  rough.  Chimneys  were  built  of 
rough  stone,  and  topped  with  laths  plastered  with  clay.  In  the 
better  class  of  houses  they  were  built  of  brick.  In  all  cases  they 
were  very  large  and  provided  with  spacious  fireplaces.  The  oven 
opened  into  the  fireplace.  In  some  instances  it  was  built  in  the 
open  air,  but  not  frequently.  These  large  chimneys  were  more 
easily  constructed  of  coarse  materials  than  smaller  ones,  and  were 
also  necessary  on  account  of  the  large  fires  kept  burning  in  the 
cold  season.  These  fires  could  not  be  dispensed  with,  the  houses 
being  so  openly  constructed  as  to  readily  admit  the  air.  The 
hovels  for  the  shelter  of  stock  consisted  of  walls  built  of  hewn 
logs  fastened  at  the  corners,  and  covered  with  a  roof  similar  to 
that  placed  over  the  haystack. 

The  mode  of  traveling  was  principally  on  foot.  Few  horses 
were  owned  by  the  people.  These  were  used  for  horseback  riding. 
It  was  a  common  practice  for  two  persons  to  ride  at  one  time, 
usually  a  man  and  a  woman — the  man  riding  before  on  a  saddle, 
and  the  woman  upon  a  pillion  attached  to  the  saddle.  Not  in- 
frequently one  child,  and  perhaps  two  children,  would  be  carried 
at  the  same  time.  Wheel  carriages  were  rarely  used  by  the  in- 
habitants. In  the  winter  season  sleds  drawn  by  horses  and  oxen 
were  in  common  use.  These  sleds  were  also  used  for  drawing 
hay  from  the  fields  and  other  burthens  in  the  summer  season. 

The  food  of  the  people  was  quite  simple.  Rye  and  Indian  corn 
were  the  principal  grains  raised.  These  were  ground  at  the  grist- 
mill, but  not  bolted.  The  coarse  bran  was  separated  with  a  hand 
sieve,  and  when  it  was  desirable  to  obtain  fine  flour,  the  sifted 
meal  was  shaken  in  a  fine  sieve.  Various  but  simple  were  the 
ways  of  cooking  these  meals.  Some  of  the  methods  are  still  in 
use.  The  "rye-and-Injun"loaf  will  probably  lie  retained  to  the 
latest  posterity.  One  mode  of  preparing  bread  then  very  pre- 
valent is  now  entirelv  out  of  use,  the  baking  of  bannocks.  It  was 


538 


HISTORY   OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


in  this  manner:  Thick  batter  was  spread  upon  a  plate  or  small 
sheet  of  iron,  sometimes  upon  a  bit  of  board,  and  set  up  edgewise 
before  the  kitchen  fire.  Where  the  family  was  large,  a  consider- 
able number  of  these  would  be  before  the  fire  at  the  same  time. 
Rude  as  this  method  may  seem,  it  required  some  skill  to  properly 
manage  the  baking.  Care  must  be  taken  that  the  bread  did  not 
burn  or  slide  down  on  the  hearthstone.  When  one  side  was  suf- 
ficiently baked,  the  bannock  must  be  "turned,"  that  the  other  side 
might  be  presented  to  the  fire.  To  do  this  skilfully  was  regarded 
as  a  very  desirable  accomplishment.  Meats  were  somewhat 
sparingly  eaten.  Beef  and  mutton  could  not  well  be  afforded  on 
account  of  the  scarcity  of  cattle  and  sheep.  Pork  was  not  very 
abundant,  for  although  almost  every  family  kept  swine,  they  were 
required  to  obtain  their  living  by  running  at  large  during  the  sum- 
mer season,  and  were  but  little  fattened  in  the  fall.  Some  wild 
meats  were  eaten,  and  a  good  supply  of  fish  was  obtained  from 
the  brooks,  ponds,  and  lakes. 

One  very  common  dish  was  "bean  porridge,"  prepared  by  boil- 
ing meat,  beans,  and  Indian  corn  together.  "Boiled  corn"  was 
much  eaten.  The  shelled  kernels  were  first  slightly  boiled  in  weak 
lye,  by  which  means  the  hulls  were  removed.  They  were  then 
repeatedly  rinsed  in  pure  water  in  order  to  remove  the  alkaline 
matter,  and  afterwards  subjected  to  several  hours'  boiling.  When 
sufficiently  cooked  the  corn  was  served  up  with  milk  or  molasses. 
Roasted  potatoes,  boiled  fish,  and  butter  furnished  a  healthful 
repast.  Boiled  meat,  turnips,  and  brown  bread  afforded  a  sub- 
stantial dinner.  Poultry,  bacon,  and  eggs  were  eaten  to  some 
extent.  Puddings  were  very  common.  Fine  meal  bread,  sweet- 
ened with  maple  sugar  or  West  India  molasses,  sometimes  graced 
the  supper  table.  "Hasty  pudding  and  milk"  was  a  very  common 
dish,  especially  for  children. 

The  simple  manner  of  living  rendered  the  people  of  that  time 
hardy  and  capable  of  performing  a  large  amount  of  labor.  It  was 
not  an  uncommon  thing  for  a  man  to  fell  an  acre  of  trees  in  one 


HISTORY   OF   WOLFEBOROUGH.  539 

day.  To  be  sure  this  was  done  in  part  by  "driving,"  as  it  was 
termed.  This  was  the  method :  A  considerable  number  of  trees 
were  cut  partly  off ;  then  one  very  large  and  favorably  situated  was 
selected,  which  in  falling  would  strike  others,  and  these  again 
others,  until  scores,  and  perhaps  hundreds,  would  come  crashing 
down  at  the  same  time.  Still  it  required  much  physical  energy 
and  strength  to  accomplish  that  amount  of  work  in  so  short  a 
time.  Piling  was  also  very  heavy  work,  and  occasioned  a  lively 
competition.  Two  persons  generally  worked  together,  and  it  was 
regarded  as  disreputable  for  one  to  permit  his  end  of  the  log  to 
fall  behind  that  of  his  fellow-laborer. 

Hunting  and  fishing  were  the  principal  amusements  of  the 
settlers,  and  in  this  profit  was  chiefly  considered.  In  the  fall  bears 
were  quite  troublesome  in  the  cornfields,  and  were  destroyed  in 
various  ways — sometimes  by  being  caught  in  log  traps,  or  by 
being  shot  by  guns  set  for  the  purpose,  and  sometimes  by  hunting. 
Their  flesh  in  the  autumn  or  early  part  of  the  winter  was  con- 
sidered very  good.  In  the  winter  deer  were  taken  in  considerable 
numbers,  game  laws  not  being  in  much  force  at  this  time.  Other 
wild  game  was  hunted  ;  some  for  flesh,  some  for  fur,  and  others  to 
prevent  depredations  on  the  growing  crops  or  domestic  animals. 

At  this  period  liquors  were  in  common  use,  although  seldom 
drunk  immoderately  except  on  extraordinary  occasions.  When 
friends  met  at  the  store  or  at  their  own  house,  "a  treat"  was  ex- 
pected, and  the  storekeeper  would  have  been  regarded  as  nig- 
gardly who  did  not  offer  his  customer  a  dram  if  he  had  made  a 
considerable  purchase.  On  all  public  occasions  and  social  feasts 
liquors  were  provided,  generally  at  the  expense  of  the  managers. 
Laborers,  especially  if  the  toil  was  unusually  severe,  expected 
their  allowance  of  grog;  even  the  housewife  on  washing  day  did 
not  hesitate  to  take  a  "drop  sweetened."  It  was  always  kept  on 
hand  for  visitors,  and  however  scanty  and  coarse  might  be  the 
food  offered,  if  the  bowl  of  toddy  or  mug  of  flip  was  forthcoming, 
the  claims  of  hospitality  were  satisfactorily  complied  with.  A 


540 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


bowl  of  toddy  consisted  of  a  half-pint  of  rum  mixed  with  sugar 
and  water,  and  was  regarded  as  a  drink  for  four  persons.  A  mug 
of  flip  was  composed  of  the  same  materials,  but  drunk  warm. 
Town  officers  were  supplied  with  liquor  at  the  expense  of  the  town, 
and  frequently  furnished  it  for  persons  calling  at  the  town  office 
on  business.  Sometimes  the  whole  company  present  would  be 
invited  to  drink.  At  the  "vendue"  of  two  vagrants  in  1784,  in 
Wolfeborough,  twenty-one  bowls  of  toddy  were  drunk  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  town.  At  the  sale  of  the  pews  of  the  Wolfeborough 
meeting-house  in  1791,  liquors  were  provided  by  the  selectmen. 
Notwithstanding  the  general  use  of  intoxicating  drinks  at  this 
period,  drunkenness  was  not  very  common. 

The  axe  was  the  universal  and  most  important  implement  of  a 
settler  in  a  New  England  forest.  This,  as  well  as  all  other  farm- 
ing tools  composed  of  iron  or  steel,  was  manufactured  by  the  vil- 
lage blacksmith.  It  was  usually  quite  heavy,  and  clumsily  made. 
Sometimes  it  was  broad  on  the  edge,  being  shaped  somewhat  like 
the  broad-axe.  The  hoe  consisted  of  a  small  plate  of  hammered 
iron,  to  which  was  fastened  a  socket.  Through  this  the  handle  was 
put,  and  fastened  with  wedges.  The  shovel  was  made  of  firm 
wood,  and  the  blade  occasionally  bordered  with  iron,  or  "shod." 
The  "plow  irons"  consisted  of  two  parts,  the  colter  and  the  "chip- 
and-wing,"  or  share.  The  "wood-work"'  was  made  at  the  farmer's 
house.  In  constructing  it  timber  was  not  sparingly  used.  The 
"furrow-board"  was  taken  from  a  winding  tree.  The  plow,  being 
short  and  clumsy,  would  not  well  turn  the  sward,  but  seemed  to 
be  designed  mainly  for  rooting.  It  was,  however,  an  instrument 
not  much  needed,  as  most  of  the  cereal  and  root  crops  were  raised 
on  a  "burn."  The  harrow  was  made  of  the  forking  branches  of  a 
tree,  into  which  wooden  teeth  were  driven. 

It  has  been  before  said  that  hay  was  drawn  to  the  stack  or  hovel 
upon  sleds.  This  was  usually  the  case,  but  sometimes  a  sledge 
was  used.  This  consisted  of  two  long  poles,  fastened  together 
with  cross-bars.  The  lighter  ends  of  the  poles  were  attached  to 


HISTORY   OF   WOLFEBOROUGH. 


541 


a  horse,  while  the  others  dragged  on  the  ground.  The  first  at- 
tempt to  manufacture  wheels  was  in  this  manner:  Large  trucks 
were  formed  of  plank,  two  of  these  were  placed  together  in  such 
a  position  that  the  grains  of  wood  in  one  would  cross  those  of 
the  other,  and  fastened  with  three  nails.  On  the  outside  of  this 
apology  of  a  wheel  was  fixed  a  cleat  of  very  firm  wood  on  which 
the  axle  might  rest.  Block  wheels  followed  these ;  they  were 
constructed  much  like  those  used  at  the  present  time,  only  the 
felloes  were  much  larger  and  were  not  ironed. 

The  flail  with  which  grain  was  threshed  consisted  of  two  stout 
cudgels  fastened  together  with  a  cord  or  leathern  string.  The  one 
held  in  the  hand  was  called  "the  staff,"  and  was  a  little  longer 
than  the  other,  which  was  termed  the  "swingle."  It  was  quite 
common  for  two  persons  to  thresh  together,  each  striking  the 
grain  alternately  and  with  equal  rapidity.  Occasionally  the  flail 
string  would  break  throwing  the  swingle  high  in  the  air,  which 
in  its  descent  was  liable  to  give  the  laborer  a  blow  on  the  head. 
One  grindstone  and  a  cross-cut  saw  generally  answered  for  an 
entire  neighborhood.  The  principal  mechanical  tools  owned  by 
a  farmer  were,  with  the  exception  of  the  axe,  a  gouge  and  a  pod- 
auger.  The  gouge  was  an  necessary  accompaniment  of  the  auger, 
as  it  was  difficult  to  enter  the  wood  with  the  auger  until  a  hole 
was  first  made  with  the  gouge.  Besides  these  were  the  frow,  an 
elongated  wedge  used  in  riving  timber,  and  the  shave.  These 
last-mentioned  tools  were  used  chiefly  in  manufacturing  shingles, 
which  were  then  rived  and  shaven,  and  were  much  superior  to 
those  of  the  present  time  obtained  by  sawing. 

In  preparing  wool,  cotton,  and  tow  for  spinning,  it  was  neces- 
sary that  these  substances  should  first  be  formed  into  "rolls" 
with  hand-cards.  These  rolls  were  a  little  more  than  a  foot  in 
length  ;  those  of  wool  and  cotton  being  round,  and  those  of  tow 
flattened.  Carding  parties  \vere  quite  common,  when  several 
neighbors  would  each  take  a  small  bundle  of  wool,  or  more  fre- 
quently cotton,  and  a  pair  of  cards,  and  spend  the  afternoon  in 


542 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


forming  rolls,  taking  tea  with  the  family  which  they  visited.  It 
was  nearly  as  much  labor  to  card  as  to  spin  a  certain  quantity 
of  the  raw  material.  Wool,  cotton,  and  tow  were  spun  on  a  "large 
wheel."  This  machine  consisted  of  a  narrow  bench  standing  on 
the  legs,  the  forward  being  more  elevated  than  the  back.  At  tlie 
forward  end  were  two  small  posts  nearly  perpendicular.  To  these 
was  attached  an  iron  or  steel  spindle,  kept  in  place  with  "ears/' 
formed  of  hemlock  twigs  or  corn  husks.  At  the  back  part  of  the 
bench  arose  another  small  post  inclining  backward.  Near  the  top 
of  this  was  a  short  axle  on  which  revolved  a  broad-rimmed  wheel 
about  four  feet  in  diameter.  A  band  of  twisted  yarn  passed  from 
the  wheel  to  a  grooved  "whirl"  on  the  spindle.  In  spinning  the 
roll  was  taken  in  the  left  hand  and  attached  to  the  spindle ;  at  the 
same  moment  a  brisk  motion  was  given  to  the  wheel  with  the 
right  hand,  the  spinner  slowly  stepping  back  and  drawing  out  a 
thread  of  yarn.  Usually  a  small  wooden  pin  was  carried  in  the 
right  hand  with  which  the  wheel  was  moved.  This  was  called  a 
"wheel-pin."  The  yarn  was  wound  from  the  spindle  with  a  reel 
into  skeins.  Each  skein  consisted  of  seven  knots  of  forty  threads, 
and  each  thread  was  required  to  be  six  feet  long,  so  that  a  skein 
of  yarn  was  one  continuous  thread  one  thousand  six  hundred  and 
eighty  feet  in  length.  It  was  a  daily  stint  to  spin  five  skeins  of 
wool  yarn,  or  to  card  and  spin  three  skeins.  A  woman  perform- 
ing this  amount  of  labor  usually  received  fifty  cents  a  week  and 
board.  The  yarn  intended  for  warp  was  subsequently  wound  on 
spools,  which  were  hollow  cylinders  of  wood,  with  a  ridge  at  each 
end.  This  was  done  in  the  following  manner :  The  skein  of  yarn 
'was  stretched  on  a  "swift,"  or  revolving  reel,  and  the  spool  was 
placed  on  the  spindle  of  the  wheel  before  described.  Then,  by  a 
continuous  turning  of  the  wheel,  the  yarn  was  transferred  from 
the  swift  to  the  spool.  The  spools  were  then  set  in  a  frame  called 
a  "spool  frame,"  being  kept  in  their  places  by  small  wooden  rods, 
and  the  threads  from  the  several  spools  were  carried  collectively 
around  wooden  pins  set  in  another  frame  called  "warping  bars." 


HISTORY   OF   WOLFEBOROUQH.  543 

This  process  was  denominated  warping,  and  was  the  last  step 
preparatory  to  putting  the  yarn  in  the  loom  for  weaving. 

The  loom  to  be  found  in  almost  every  farmhouse  consisted  of  a 
stout  frame  of  wood  about  six  feet  broad,  five  feet  long,  and  five 
feet  high.  At  one  end  was  a  large  cylinder  around  which  the 
warp  was  wound.  This  was  called  the  "yarn  beam."  At  a  little 
distance  from  this  was  suspended  "the  harness,"  connected  with 
cords  to  pulleys  above  and  treadles  below.  The  harness  was  made 
by  connecting  two  slender  shafts  with  numerous  threads.  By 
knotting  these  threads  of  twine,  "eyes"  were  formed  through 
which  the  threads  of  the  warp  were  carried  separately.  Near  the 
harness  and  immediately  before  it  hung  the  lathe.  This  was  a 
wooden  frame,  the  upper  part  of  which  rested  on  the  timbers  of 
the  loom  in  such  a  manner  that  it  could  easily  be  swung  forward 
and  backward.  At  the  lower  part  were  two  cross-bars,  one  of 
which  was  movable.  Between  these  cross-bars,  which  were 
grooved  on  the  inner  edges,  was  fixed  the  "slaie,"  now  usually 
termed  the  reed.  This  was  a  frame  three  or  four  feet  long  and 
four  inches  broad,  in  which  were  set,  in  an  upright  position,  small 
slips  of  reed  or  upright  slats.  The  threads  of  the  warp  were 
drawn  through  the  interstices  between  these  slats,  then  carried 
over  a  square  timber  called  the  "breast  beam,"  and  finally  con- 
nected with  a  small  cylinder  called  the  "cloth  beam,"  situated  in 
the  lower  part  of  the  loom.  Fronting  the  breast  beam  was  placed 
a  high  seat  for  the  weaver.  The  "treadles"  (in  weaving  plain 
cloth  two  were  used)  were  narrow  boards,  one  end  of  each  at- 
tached to  the  framework  of  the  loom,  and  the  other  to  the  harness. 
The  manner  of  weaving  was  as  follows :  A  quill,  usually  the 
woody  stock  of  some  plant,  from  which  the  pith  had  been  re- 
moved, was  wound  with  woof  yarn  and  fixed  on  a  small  rod  in 
a  hand  shuttle.  By  the  action  of  the  treadle  on  the  harness  the 
alternate  threads  of  the  warp  were  separated.  With  one  hand 
the  operator  then  threw  the  shuttle  between  these  threads  thus 
separated,  and  with  the  other  brought  forth  the  lathe  containing 


544 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 


the  "slaie."  This  pressed  the  woof-thread  close  to  the  one  which 
preceeded  it.  The  lathe  was  then  swung  back,  the  foot  pressed 
on  the  other  treadle,  the  upper  and  lower  threads  of  the  warp, 
by  the  action  of  the  harness,  were  made  to  cross  each  other,  and 
thus  confine  the  woof  in  its  place.  The  shuttle  was  then  thrown 
back  through  the  new  opening  between  these  threads  of  the  warp, 
and  the  lathe  again  brought  forward ;  and  this  course  being  con- 
tinued, the  web  of  cloth  was  at  length  produced.  To  weave  five 
yards  of  cloth  was  the  allotment  for  a  day's  work.  When  more 
complicated  webs  were  woven,  four  or  more  treadles  were  used. 


EENJAWIN  F.  PARKER 


BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  PARKER. 

Benjamin  F.  Parker,*  the  historian  of  Wolfeborough,  lived  here 
a  long,  useful  life  and  was  for  threescore  and  ten  years  an  active 
citizen  of  the  town.  Mr.  Parker  was  born  April  21,  1817,  and 
came  to  Wolfeborough  at  the  age  of  fourteen  to  live  with  Robert 
Wiggin,  a  relative  of  his  mother.  Mr.  Parker  was  the  son  of 
Samuei  Parker,  who  followed  the  sea,  and  died  in  1819  of  yellow 
fever  in  Florida.  Samuel  Parker  was  of  the  well-known  Boston 
family  of  the  name  that  came  from  England  early  in  the  seven- 
teenth century. 

Young  Parker  was  educated  in  the  old  Wolfeborough  and 
Tuftonborough  academy  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  began  what 
proved  to  be  an  eminently  successful  career  as  a  teacher.  He 
taught  in  the  public  schools  of  Wolfeborough  and  adjacent  towns 
and  was  also  assistant  to  the  principal  of  the  academy.  In  1847, 
he  began  trade  with  his  foster  father,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Parker  &  Wiggin.  This  firm  and  its  successors  did  business  for 
nearly  fifty  years. 

In  1850,  he  married  Harriet  B.,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Whitten, 
and  by  her  had  eight  children,  six  of  whom  survive.  From  their 
marriage,  until  Mr.  Parker's  death,  Dec.  30,  1900,  they  had  moved 
but  once,  and  then  only  from  the  house  next  door. 

We  quote  here  from  the  words  of  eulogy  pronounced  by  Rev. 
George  L.  White  of  New  Hampton : 

"An  ancient  high  priest  of  Israel,  Jehoiada  by  name,  when  he 
came  to  die,  was  buried  in  the  city  of  David  among  the  Kings,  be- 
cause he  had  done  good  to  Israel  and  toward  God  and  his  house. 
An  unusual  thing — a  very  high  mark  of  honor,  for  a  priest  to  be 
buried  with  royalty,  and  all  because  of  distinguished  services  to 
the  church  and  state. 


*  A  short  genealogy  appears  on  page  453. 


$4.6  HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUGH. 

"Deacon  Parker  has  been  so  long  identified  with  the  interests  of 
the  town,  and  of  this  church — he  has  been  so  useful  to  them  both, 
that  it  has  seemed  to  me  that  he  deserved  at  our  hands  as  kingly 
a  burial  as  Israel  of  old  gave  to  the  high  priest  Jehoiada. 

"You  know  how  burial  in  Westminster  Abbey  is  regarded  by  all 
English-speaking  people.  Kings  and  counsellors,  statesmen  and 
generals,  poets  and  orators,  the  distinguished  for  a  dozen  centuries, 
have  been  given  burial  there.  It  is  the  highest  honor  that  Eng- 
land can  give  her  dead.  To  my  mind,  it  is  better  to  live  so  well, 
to  do  so  much  good,  in  the  humble  walks  of  life,  that  the  common 
people  will  come  to  our  burial,  grieve  deeply  over  our  departure, 
remember  gratefully  our  virtues  and  kindly  forget  our  faults,  than 
to  be  buried  in  Westminster  Abbey,  or  any  other  most  sacred  and 
venerable  burying-place. 

"Wolfeborough  mourns  for  Deacon  Parker  today.  A  long  life  has 
been  his :  lived  largely  right  in  your  midst,  identified  from  the 
earliest  with  most  of  the  important  interests  of  your  town,  a  man 
public-spirited,  of  wide  sympathies,  of  unusual  breadth  of  mind. 

"Yes,  Deacon  Parker  was  a  Christian.  He  loved  his  fellow-men. 
He  evidenced  that  love  in  the  most  convincing  way,  for  he  never 
shrank  from  social  ostracism  or  contumely,  if  these  stood  in  the 
path  of  his  duty.  From  the  earliest  he  was  an  abolitionist  and 
was  actively  engaged  in  behalf  of  the  slave  when  it  was  not  a  pop- 
ular thing  at  all.  At  our  General  Conferences,  he  would  draft 
resolutions,  and  defend  them  with  strong  and  convincing  speeches ; 
he  would  contribute  of  his  means  to  maintain  meetings  in  behalf 
of  the  slave,  and  to  forward  the  underground  railway.  In  short, 
he  threw  himself  into  the  abolition  cause  with  all  the  ardor  of 
which  he  was  capable  and  for  which  he  was  always  so  con- 
spicuous. 

"He  scorned  to  be  a  coward.  Others  might  keep  silence  out  of 
policy,  self-interest,  timorousness,  or  fear  of  scorn.  Deacon  Parker 
never  hesitated  to  speak  his  convictions. 

"Deacon  Parker  never  grew  old — let  me  hasten  to  correct — he 


HISTORY  OF  WOLFEBOROUOH. 


547 


was  young  to  the  last  day  of  his  life.  It  has  been  humorously  said 
of  Scotchmen  that  they  are  born  with  their  minds  all  made  up 
and  they  think  life  too  short  to  make  it  worth  while  to  change 
them.  Deacon  Parker  could  change  his  mind.  He  was  always 
open  to  evidence.  He  always  was  a  patient  truth-seeker.  He 
trusted  God ;  believed  Him  to  be  at  the  head  of  human  affairs ; 
that  He  was  able  to  work  out  His  own  will  concerning  us,  after 
a  method  of  His  own  choosing,  and  that  a  righteous  principle  can 
never  die,  nor  suffer  more  than  temporary  defeat." 

Mr.  Parker's  life  work  was  this  history  of  his  beloved  town,  to 
which  he  gave  freely  of  time  and  painstaking  effort.  This  work 
will  be  his  enduring  monument. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTEB  I Page  6 

Discovery  of  Plscataqua  River — New  England — Council  of  Ply- 
mouth— Gorges  and  Mason — Laconia — First  Settlements  at  Pis- 
cataqua — New  Hampshire — Mason's  Grant — Death  of  Mason  and 
his  Heirs — Land  sold  to  Samuel  Allen — Young  Mason's  Claims 
and  the  Disposal  of  the  Property. 

CHAPTEB  II Page  10 

Grant  of  Township — Kingswood — Admission  of  Associates — 
How  the  New  Town  was  named — The  Miles  Road — Elisha 
Bryant  fells  Trees — First  Meeting  of  Town  Proprietors — Town 
named,  surveyed,  and  divided — Effort  to  promote  Settlement — 
Terms  under  which  Land  could  be  acquired — Separation  into 
Lots — Descriptive  Boundaries — Boundaries  of  Subdivisions  and 
Additions. 

CHAPTEB  III Page  31 

Topography — Bays  of  Wolfeborough  Harbor — Smith's  Pond  and 
River — Lake  Wentworth  and  its  Islands — Its  Meadows,  Beaches 
and  Tributary  Streams — Crooked  Pond — Loon  Island — Scenic 
Views  from  the  Lake — Tumble-Down  Dick — Copple  Crown — 
Longstack — Belknap — Ossipee — Presidential  Ranges — Neighbor- 
ing Foot-hills — Rust's  Pond — Perry's  Brook — Mirror  Lake — 
Beach,  Lily,  and  Batson's  Ponds — Meserve  and  Factory  Brooks 
— Center  Square,  Stockbridge,  Boston,  Trask,  Whiteface,  and 
Cotton  Mountains — The  Valley  Road — Minerals — Products — In- 
dian Relics. 

CHAPTER   IV Page  43 

Notice  of  Proprietors'  Meeting — Form  of  Contract — Note  to 
Josiah  Miles — March's  Contract — Titles  to  Proprietors'  Lots — 
Rust's  Deed  and  a  Description  of  his  Lot — Description  of  Sun- 
dry Lots — George  Meserve's  Contract  to  erect  Mills — Livlus' 
Proposition — Meeerve's  Failure  and  the  New  Contract — Lands 
forfeited  by  a  Few  Proprietors  and  re-granted  to  Governor  Went- 
worth— Blake  and  Libbey  fell  Trees — Rustic  Surgery — Town 
permanently  settled  in  1768 — Earlier  Visitors  in  the  Town. 


550  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  V Page  55 

Governor  John  Wentworth — Parentage  and  Ancestry — A  Stu- 
dent at  Harvard — Friendship  with  Dr.  Ammi  R.  Cutter — Be- 
comes an  Interested  Proprietor  of  Wolfeborough — Appointed 
Joint  Agent  for  the  Province  at  the  British  Court — Made  Sur- 
veyor of  the  King's  Woods  in  North  America  and  Governor  of 
the  Province — His  Reception  at  Portsmouth — Felicitous  Com- 
mencement of  his  Administration — Lady  Wentworth — The  Gov- 
ernor's Interest  in  Dartmouth  College  and  Road-building — 
Livius'  Charge  of  Malfeasance — Political  Antagonisms — Revolu- 
tionary Foreshadowings — Goes  to  Portsmouth — His  Last  Official 
Act — Subsequent  Career  and  Death. 

CHAPTEB  VI Page   74 

Sketch  of  Dr.  Ammi  Ruhamah  Cutter — A  Notable  Figure  in  the 
Early  History  of  the  Town — Other  Proprietors — Judge  David 
Bewail. 

CHAPTER  VII Page  80 

The  Governor's  Farm — Innate  Love  of  Earth — Influence  of  Eng- 
lish Country  Life  upon  Governor  Wentworth — Location  and 
Area  of  the  Farm — The  Mansion-house  and  Surroundings — How 
the  Land  was  prepared — The  Wall — The  Park — Promotion  of 
Local  Interests — The  Piscataqua  Canal — Roads  to  Canada — Pur- 
suits of  First  Settlers  of  New  Hampshire — Dr.  Dwight's  Charac- 
terization— Development  of  the  Governor's  Plans — His  Inten- 
tions— Occupation  of  the  New  House — New  Hampshire's  Oldest 
Watering-place — Legendary  Lore — The  Governor's  Slaves — The 
"High  Gust  of  Wind" — Description  of  the  Mansion  in  1770 — 
The  Governor's  Retainers — War  Clouds  Arise — Hurried  Visit  to 
the  Farm — The  Final  Scenes  of  the  Drama. 

CHAPTER  VIII Page  98 

Happenings  at  the  Farm  after  the  Governor's  Departure — His 
Exile — Confiscation  of  Property — Personal  Effects  Sold — The 
Cattle  feed  the  Patriot  Army — Plans  for  disposing  of  the  Estate 
— The  Cabotts*  Purchase  in  1782 — Daniel  Raymond  becomes  the 
Owner — Division  and  Sale  of  Land — The  Mansion-house  burned 
— Sad  Reflections — Trend  of  Development  of  the  Land — The  Fu- 
ture of  the  Farm. 

CHAPTER  IX Page  105 

First  Settlers — Henry  Rust  clears  Land — His  Sons  winter  in 
the  Town— His  Wife— A  Sketch  of  his  Life— Reuben  Libbey— 
Settler's  Lot— Parker's  Agent — A  Town  Official,  Soldier,  and 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  55! 

Bear  Hunter — Paul  March  and  his  Contract — Location  of  the 
Seven  Farms — The  Fifty-acre  Lots — The  Lucas,  Newall,  Avery, 
Manning,  and  Gould  Interests — Second  Farm — Samuel  Teb- 
betts — Dudley  L.  Libbey — Blake  Folsom — Daniel  E.  Leavitt — 
Third  Farm — Joseph  Lary — John  Sinkler — Daniel  Wiggin — 
Benjamin  Webster — Fourth  Farm — Thomas  Piper  sells  Farm, 
and  settles  on  Fifty-acre  Lot — Two  Sons  in  the  Revolution — 
Timothy  Piper's  Family — John  Piper's  Remarkable  Family — 
Ebenezer  Meader  purchases  Piper's  Lot — The  first  Pig  arrives 
in  Town — A  Journey  through  the  Forest — The  Blacksmith — 
Fifth  Farm — Thomas  Taylor— First  Male  Child  born— Ben- 
jamin Folsom — Jonathan  Chase — A  Centenarian — The  Folsom 
Family — Sixth  Farm — Benjamin  Blake — Jonathan  and  Daniel 
Blake — Seventh  Farm — Widow  Mary  Fullerton — Two  Soldiers 
— The  Daughters. 

CHAPTER  X Page  121 

Other  Settlers — Jacob  Sceggel — His  Son  and  Grandson — Aaron 
Frost — His  Encounter  with  a  Bear — Grafton  Nutter — John 
Flagg — Jotharn  Rindge — Robert  Calder — James  Conner — Enoch 
Thomas — Andrew  Wiggin — Jonathan  Hersey — John  Parker — 
Matthew  S.  Parker — Henry  Rust  Parker — Moses  and  Ichabod 
Tebbetts — George  Woodhouse — Thomas  Triggs — Joseph  Kenis- 
ton — Samuel  Hide — Joseph  Leavitt — Abram  Prebble. 

CHAPTER  XI Page  128 

Local  Government  established — The  Charter — The  Annual  Fair 
— The  First  Town-meeting — Officers  chosen — Town-meeting  Rec- 
ords— Examples  of  Phonetic  Spelling — A  Highway  Surveyor's 
Warrant — Specified  Duties  of  Town  Officers — Fence-viewers — 
Field-drivers — Pound-keepers — Hog-reeves — Benedicks  —  Pounds 
— The  Constable — The  Tithing-man — The  Deer-keeper — The 
Race-ground — Early  Fairs — Methods  of  Traveling. 

CHAPTER  XII Page  139 

The  Revolution — Uncertainty  prevails  in  1775 — Census  of  1773 
and  1775 — Ammunition  purchased — The  Town  acts — Moses  Ham 
appointed  Agent — Early  Enlistments — Organization  of  the 
Train-band— Meager  Records — Money  and  Labor  gtven — Differ- 
ence as  to  Town  Quota  of  Men — Town-meeting  to  provide  Sol- 
diers— Two  Men  enlist — Burgoyne's  Raid — General  Whipple's 
Letter — How  the  Soldiers  were  fitted  out — No  New  Hampshire 
Conscripts — Exempts — Town  declines  to  send  Delegate  to  Pro- 
vincial Convention. 


552 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XIII Page  157 

The  Revolution — Reuben  Libbey  goes  to  War  instead  of  a  Sub- 
stitute— His  Hay-crop  harvested  by  a  Labor  Tax — James  Fuller- 
ton  and  James  Wiggin  enlist — Wiggin  honorably  discharged — 
Other  Enlistments — New  Hampshire  furnishes  the  Army  Rum 
and  Beef — Progress  of  the  Conflict — Bounties  vainly  offered — 
State  supplies  Town's  Quota — Full  list  of  Soldiers — Their  Ser- 
vice— Officers — Fatal  Casualties — Town's  War  Debt — Farms  at- 
tached for  State  Tax — Debt  finally  wiped  out — Prospect  for  the 
Future. 

CHAPTER  XIV Page  174 

Estes  Family — Cotton  Family — Rogers  Family — Hersey  Family 
— Martin  Family — Brief  Sketches  of  Other  Families. 

CHAPTER  XV Page  185 

Ebenezer  Horne  and  his  Success  as  a  Road-builder — Something 
of  his  Family — Why  Goose  Corner  was  so-called — Roads  built  in 
all  Directions — History  and  Description  of  the  Ossipee  Road — 
Other  important  Roads  laid  out  since  1800 — The  Village  Streets. 

CHAPTER  XVI Page  200 

Middleton — Nicholas  Austin  becomes  Bumptious — Petition  for 
New  Town — Remonstrance — Second  Petition — Second  Remon- 
strance— Parker's  Bill — Road  to  Middleton— Interesting  Cor- 
respondence on  the  Matter — Petition  from  Citizens  of  Ossipee 
— Bristol — Wolfeborough  Addition — Action  of  Selectmen  on  Pe- 
titions— Alton  and  Tuftonborough  Annexations. 

CHAPTER  XVII Page  221 

Varney  Family — Bassett  Family — Brackett  Family — Jesse  Whit- 
ten's  Family — Haines  Family — Hardy  Family — Edmonds  Fam- 
ily— Chamberlain  Family — Nute Family — Nudd  Family — Shorey 
Family — Some  of  the  more  Recent  Arrivals. 

CHAPTER  XVIII Page  242 

Inventory  of  1788 — A  Good  Growth  indicated — Annual  Town- 
meeting  of  1788 — Action  looking  toward  the  Building  of  a  Meet- 
ing-house. 

CHAPTER  XIX Page  254 

The  Meeting-house — Pledged  Donation  from  Proprietors — De- 
lays— Exchange  of  Lots — Labor  Tax — New  Proposal  of  Pro- 
prietors— Purchase  of  Pews  and  Sale  of  Lumber — The  Builders 
— Time  Required  to  Build — The  Cost — House  Described — 
Changed  to  Town-house — Its  Final  Disposition — Part  of  Lot 
Sold — The  Burying-yard — Fires. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


553 


CHAPTEB  XX Page  268 

The  Early  Ministry — New  England  Custom — Andrew  Collins—- 
John Allen — Benjamin  Randall — Isaac  Townsend — Ebenezer 
Allen — His  Call  to  be  Town  Minister — His  Reply — Controversy 
— Protest  against  Ordination  of  Townsend — Protest  against 
Ordination  of  Allen — Ordination  of  Townsend — Ordination  of 
Allen — The  Sermon — The  Charge — The  Right  Hand  of  Fellow- 
ship— The  Entertainment — A  Somewhat  Spiritous  as  well  as 
Spiritual  Gathering. 

CHAPTER  XXI Page  295 

First  Minister's  Lot — The  Parsonage — Ministerial  Tax — Var- 
ney's  Petition — Exempts — The  Lawsuit — The  Glove — Allen's  An- 
cestry and  Posterity — His  Work  and  Character — Sudden  Death 
— Sketch  of  Elder  Townsend — Comparison  of  the  Two  First 
Clergymen. 

CHAPTER  XXII Page  306 

Churches  and  Other  Religious  Organizations — First  Church  Or- 
ganized— Christian  Churches  Established  in  1812  and  1822 — 
Co-workers  Fernald  and  Townsend  and  Their  Followers — 
Stephen  Coffin — Allen's  Church — John  P.  Cleveland— The  First 
Sunday-school — The  Academy  Chapel  Finished — Thomas  P. 
Beach — Dr.  Jeremiah  Blake — The  Methodists — The  Friends — 
The  Universal ists — The  Unitarians — The  Adventists — The  Cath- 
olics— Location  of  Churches. 

CHAPTER  XXIII Page  330 

Schools — Andrew  Collins — Isaiah  Home — Grain  Currency — Four 
Districts — Schoolrooms  —  Furniture  —  Eight  Districts  —  School 
Lot  sold — Schoolhouses — Teachers — Dudley  Leavitt — The  Fire 
List — The  Sweeping  List — Boarding  around — Little  Republics 
— Brandy  Scheme — School  Committees — Exhibit  of  Schools  in 
1840 — District  Two — District  One — Union  of  Districts — High 
School— Town  System  Adopted— Exhibit  of  Schools  1898 — 
Women  Teachers  come  to  the  front — The  First  Stove. 

CHAPTER  XXIV Page  353 

Early  Banns — Marrying  and  Giving  in  Marri:  je  in  the  Old 
Days. 

CHAPTER  XXV Page  402 

Wolfeborough  and  Tuftonborough  Academy — First  Meeting  of 
Proprietors — Incorporation — Academy  Lot — Trustees — Academy 
Building — Officers  and  Students  in  1823 — Teachers  and  Stu- 


554  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

dents  in  1836 — Henry  Wilson — Lyceum — Christian  Institute — 
Brewster  Free  Academy — Extract  from  Will  of  John  Brewster 
— Charter — Trustees — Teachers — Academy  Grounds — Early  Li- 
braries— Brewster  Library — Town  Trustees  Appointed. 

CHAPTER  XXVI Page  417 

Soldiers  of  1812 — Civil  War — Provision  for  Soldiers  and  Their 
Families — Enlisted  Soldiers — Resident  Survivors — Major  James 
R.  Newell — Major  William  H.  Trickey — Captain  Alvah  S.  Libbey 
— Officers  who  became  Prominent — Civil  List  of  the  Town. 

CHAPTER  XXVII Page  435 

The  Brewster  Family — John  Brewster  and  his  Liberal  Bequests 
to  His  Native  Town— Text  of  a  Portion  of  His  Will. 

CHAPTER  XXVIII Page  444 

Wolfeborough's  Foremost  Settler — Colonel  Henry  Rust  and  his 
Long  Train  of  Descendants — The  Four  Henrys — The  Three 
Worthies — The  Parker  Branch  of  the  Family — Other  Parkers. 

CHAPTER  XXIX Page  455 

Newspapers — Carroll  County  Republican  Established  at  South 
Wolfeborough — Carroll  County  Pioneer — Carroll  County  Regis- 
ter— Granite  State  News — Carroll  County  Democrat — Sketch  of 
Charles  H.  Parker — Lawyers  and  Doctors — Brief  Sketches  of 
Men  famous  in  These  Callings — "Squire"  Batchelder — Charles  F. 
Hill— William  Fox — Sewall  W.  Abbott — Drs.  Cutter,  McNorton, 
Hall,  Tebbetts,  Pattee,  and  King. 

CHAPTER  XXX Page  468 

Mills  and  Manufacturing — The  Old  Taverns — The  Newer  Sum- 
mer Hotels — Banks — Early  Stores  and  Traders. 

CHAPTER  XXXI Page  477 

The  Avery  Family — Samuel  Avery's  Connection  with  the  Old 
Academy — Incidents  in  Life  of  Henry  Wilson — Thompson  Fam- 
ily— Huggins  Family — Stevenson  Family — Daniel  Pickering, 
Wolfeborough's  Leading  Citizen — Charles  Rollins — Thomas  L. 
Whitton. 

CHAPTER  XXXII Page  493 

Casualties  and  Fires — William  Fullerton  drowned  the  Year  the 
Town  was  incorporated — Numerous  Drowning  Accidents — The 
Varney  and  Jerome  Tragedies — Henry  Rust's  Boys  burned  out 
—The  South  Wolfeborough  Fires— The  Big  Fire  of  1887— In- 
cendiarism— Last  Disastrous  Fire. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


555 


CHAPTEB  XXXIII Page  600 

Fire  Precinct  Established — Fire  Engine  Purchased — Hose 
Companies  succeed  Volunteer  Firemen — Electric  Light  Plant  In- 
stalled— Wolfeborough  Water  Works — Post  Routes  and  Stages 
— Primitive  Postal  Facilities — The  Dover-Sandwich  Stages — 
Famous  Drivers. 

CHAPTEB  XXXIV Page  507 

Early  Transportation  Projects — Roads  and  Canals — Facilities 
afforded  by  the  Lake — Joseph  Smith  and  his  Gundalow — Old- 
time  Rafting — The  First  Steamer,  Belknap — The  Lady  of  the 
Lake — Wolfeborough  gets  in  Closer  Touch  with  the  World — 
Negotiations  for  Railroad  Connections — Wolfeborough  Road 
Finally  Constructed — Difficulties  Overcome — Steamers  Dover 
and  Mount  Washington — Story  of  the  Lady — Famous  Old  Craft 
of  a  Generation  Ago — The  Future — Exports  of  Former  Days. 

CHAPTEB  XXXV Page  516 

The  Public  Landing — How  Judge  Sewall  disposed  of  his  Lands 
in  Wolfeborough — Smith's  Bridge  Village  built  on  his  Original 
Lot — Squatters  on  the  landing — Sewall's  Statement — Develop- 
ment of  the  North  Shore. 

CHAPTER  XXXVI Page  522 

The  Early  Homes  of  the  Settlers — Methods  of  Building  in  Vogue 
— John  Lary's  Wife  a  True  Helpmeet — Two-story  Houses  of 
Seventy-five  Years  Ago — Items  of  Interest  about  Them — Holi- 
days of  Our  Fathers — The  Country  Store  as  a  Resort — Town 
Meeting,  its  Serious  and  Sportive  Side — Independence  Day—- 
The Glories  of  Muster. 

CHAPTEB  XXXVII Page  528 

Items  of  Interest — Bonus  paid  to  take  the  Inventory — Whipping 
Post— Origin  of  Shad  in  the  Lake— Big  Storm  of  1816— Bill  for 
Burying  a  Pauper — Hot  Political  Frays — Town  Surveyed — 
Thomas  Chase's  Wall — First  Carriage,  Umbrella,  and  Cider-mill 
— A  Big  Tavern  Bill — Changes  Around  the  Lake  Front— Two 
Famous  Apples. 

CHAPTER   XXXVIII Page   532 

Old  Time  Customs — How  the  Settler  prepared  and  cultivated  His 
Land — Spinning  and  Weaving — Food  and  Clothing — How  they 
"Drove"  Trees — Game  of  All  Kinds  Plentiful — Stimulants  not 
frowned  upon — The  Pioneer's  Axe — Plain  Living  and  High 
Thinking. 

SKETCH  OF  BENJAMIN  F.  PARKER Page  545 


INDEX  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Abbott,  Hon.  Sewall  W Page  462 

Advent  Chapel "  318 

Avery,   Samuel "  478 

Bickf ord,   James "  238 

Brewster   Academy "  338 

Brewster,  John "  434 

Brewster  Memorial  Hall "  136 

Center  Wolfeborough "  128 

Chamberlain,   Daniel "  236 

Church,    Christian "  306 

Church,   Congregational "  306 

Church,  Free  Baptist "  305 

Church,   Unitarian "  306 

Clark,  Greenleaf   B "  240 

East   Wolfeborough "  128 

Edgerly,  Nancy "  532 

Fernald,  Jonathan  P "  102 

Folsom,  Blake "  113 

Hall,  Dr.  Jeremiah  F "  464 

Haines,  Joseph  R "  232 

Huggins,   John  P "  484 

Huggins,    Samuel ...    "  482 

Lewando,    Joseph "  496 

Libbey,  Capt.  Alvah  S "  426 

Lord,  Edwin  H "  408 

Martin's  Hill,  View  from "  30 

Meader,   John "  114 

Header's    Retreat "  116 

Meeting  House,  East  Wolfeborough "  318 

Meeting  House,  North  Wolfeborough "  318 

Meeting  House,  South  Wolfeborough "  318 

Meeting  House,  Center  Wolfeborough "  318 

Newell,  Major  James  R "  422 

North   Wolfeborough "  128 

Old  Brick  Schoolhouse "  338 

Paris,   Elder  Cummins "  312 

Parker,  Benjamin  F "  544 


INDEX  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


557 


Parker,  Dr.  Henry  R Page  452 

Parker,  Charles  H "  468 

Pickering,    Daniel "  486 

Pickering  Homestead "  472 

Piper,  Hon.  Charles  F "  112 

Pond    Road "  36 

Remick,  Charles "  490 

Residence,  E.  B.  Dickinson "  516 

Residence,  Jos.  W.  Goodwin "  234 

Residence,  Mrs.  Martha  Jones "  506 

Rogers  Homestead "  180 

Rogers,    Nathaniel "  176 

Rollins,   Charles "  488 

Rust,  Hon.  Henry  B "  444 

Rust  Pond "  36 

Swett,    Alpheus "  494 

Thompson,  Moses "  480 

Trickey,  Major  William  H "  424 

Wentworth,   Gov.   John "  54 

Wentworth,    Lady   Frances "  62 

Wentworth,   Mansion "  80 

Wentworth  Mansion,  Plan  of "  84 

Whitten,   Jesse "  228 

Whitton,  Hon.  Thomas  L "  492 

Wolfeborough  Bay "  30-31 

Wolfeborough  Falls "  128 

Wolfeborough  Village,  Winter "  156 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


IL  L- 

NOV  3 

BUE2WK8FROM 


200) 


DATE  RECEIVED 


Form  L9-50/n-9,'60(B3610s4)444 


F 

44 

W83P2 


A    001339879    i 


